The Other Sister- Post 1

    In the film, The Other Sister, Carla demonstrates conceptual skills by creating bracelets for each member of the family and spelling out their names in beads. Also, she plans her wedding and uses creativity to plan it exactly how SHE wants it done (not how her mother would like it done). Social skills and other forms of communication are presented throughout the film. Often times, the language and talk Carla uses is not age appropriate and is used in inappropriate settings. For example, Carla talks about “doing it” and then Danny announces to everyone at Carla’s sisters wedding rehearsal dinner that him and Carla have “done it.” This is a formal event where inappropriate content was shared, at the wrong time and place. Also, Carla’s mother takes her to a charity event where they have raised money to support the local animal shelter. While they are at this ceremony, Carla proceeds to stand up in the middle of the presentation and start barking at the dogs. She is unable to read social settings and establish what is appropriate and what is uncalled for behavior in a social gathering. Carla displays several practical skills in this movie. The first is when she runs away from home and manages to fly back to the school where she had lived for the previous ten years. She was able to use directional skills and find her way back to the site of the school. This skill is extremely important in life, in order to find your way around. Also, Carla acquires her own apartment that allows her to grow independently and establish responsibilities on her own.

These examples fit the definition of someone who may have an intellectual disability because she was diagnosed before the age of 18, she lacks various adaptive behavior characteristics, and she improves her intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior skills over time. She seeks treatment at a facility that encourages her to succeed in anything that she desires and allows her to grasp these concepts.