Darold Treffert was a psychiatrist whose pioneering research helped us better understand autism and savant syndrome.
- Died: December 14, 2020 (Who else died on December 14?)
- Details of death: Died unexpectedly at his home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin at the age of 87.
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Studying extraordinary people
Treffert began studying autism in the 1960s, a time when it was still largely misunderstood. Working out of Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac, Treffert explored how the minds of people on the autism spectrum work. He was known for his celebration of the extraordinary achievements and abilities that come with savant syndrome and other points on the autism spectrum. In the 1980s, Treffert worked with screenwriter Barry Morrow as he developed the 1988 film “Rain Main,” starring Dustin Hoffman as an autistic savant, ensuring that the script was written with accuracy and sensitivity toward people with autism. He wrote the books “Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome” and “Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired, and Sudden Savant.” In 2016, the Treffert Center was opened at Agnesian HealthCare, helping people in the community with autism.
Treffert on his work on “Rain Man”
“I was a script consultant for accuracy and sensitivity on the topics of autism and savant. The movie achieved both. Real-life savant skills are spectacular by themselves, and the movie offered a very realistic and accurate portrayal of those extraordinary skills and of savant syndrome as well.” —from a speech at the film’s 30th anniversary
Tributes to Darold Treffert
Full obituary: FDL Reporter
