1.

Identify the illness

• Sam has mild case of autism

2. Identify signs and symptoms

• Whenever he’s thinking, he looks up above. He has fine hand tremors or

sometimes he’s playing with his own fingers. He is always playing with his
tongue. Often times, whenever someone is talking to him, or if his listening, or
whenever he’s staring at something, his mouth is always open. He also walks
in a different manner. He was very neat and obsessive compulsive, he was
working in the starbucks coffee where in all the thing in that café was
arranged accordingly. He has this so called echolalia, because he is fun in
repeating words, as I’ve remembered he always say’s “ I am Sam” “ That’s a
wonderful choice”. His verbal communication was poor because he has
difficulty in speaking. He also has a poor eye contact because everytime
someone is speaking to him he was not looking at the speaker. According to
the psychiatrists, he possesses a 7-year old mental capacity.

3. Identify the cause

• There is really no known single cause of autism. It is known that children with
autism have differences in size and structure of the brain as compared to
those of neurotypical children. Causes like heredity, genetics, birth-related
medical problems and even environmental factors are being researched.

4. Reflection/lesson learned

“I Am Sam” is the story of an autistic adult and his struggle to maintain

custody of his daughter which really moves my emotions especially when
Sam took care of Lucy day and night even he doesn’t know what to do. Also,
in the movie Sam exhibits odd gestures and disturbing behaviors but despite
of these signs and symptoms of Autism, I can say that Sam’s disorder isn’t
that severe. He’s still on his own mind. He knows the reality of being away
with his daughter. He knows that people are questioning his capacity to take
care of Lucy. It also reached to the point that he almost gives up but thanks to
his lawyer who supported him all the way. I realized that like us, they can
have their own family or either having a loved one and a child. They also have
a lot of things that they can share to our community. They can have a normal
life by proper guidance, love and care and someone who will understand their
situation.

Through this movie, I learned that in order for us to gain their trust, we
should let them feel that they are loved. Because through this, they will feel
secured and protected. We should also instruct them in easily understandable
words so that they can response immediately. One question at a time so that
they will not get pressured. Do not condemn them for what they are instead
help them to overcome their difficulties by encouraging them to express their
feelings and to enhance communication.
I Am Sam
Submitted by:

David Cid A. Ombao

3B

January 3, 2011