Change Your Image
kstrandell-01606
Reviews
Far from the Tree (2017)
Touching but one extreme flaw ..
This was a touching documentary that does a good job giving a voice and empowering those who aren't neurotypical or otherwise. However there is one major flaw with this documentary and that is the representation of RPM (rapid prompting method) as a scientifically valid communication device for individuals who don't speak using vocal method. RPM is pseudoscience and there has been several harmful effects that has come from this, if one does a quick google search they will find several articles where someone using RPM has been taken advantage of or has accused an innocent person of a crime they did not commit. Basically someone using RPM cannot even answer basic questions if their facilitator is not right next to them either holding the device or has their arm on them. There are SEVERAL scientifically validated augmented alternative communication systems out there and I'm highly disappointed the producers did not do their research and are instead promoting an extremely harmful pseudoscience.