A Child Is Waiting

Was Reuben’s a dysfunctional family? Did Reuben’s case call for family psychotherapy involving his parents? Did Reuben display selective mutism? Could this institution provide a safe environment for this population with open doors?

Children display signs of disfluency, perseveration, inappropriate affect... (0:07)

Teacher Mattie Nevins tells her musician friend Jean Hansen, "The most important thing to overcome is their short span of attention." (0:15)

Jean asks Mattie, referring to psychologist Dr. Matthew Clark, "Is he a medical doctor?" 
Mattie: ”No, he’s a psychologist.” 
”... Treatment, and even education... a comparatively new thing.” (0:21)

Young patient Reuben Widdicombe tells Jean, "I’m mad for you..." (0:25)

Mr. Tuzzolini asks Clark, referring to his son Raymond, "You’ll let me know if there’s any sign of speech?" (0:30)

Clark tells his secretary Sonia Hamilton, "You know sometimes I think we should be treating the parents instead of the kids..." (0:31)

Reuben’s architect father Ted asks Reuben’s mother Sophie, "You’re gonna be one of these mothers who worries every time...?" (0:34)

Sign on door: "PSYCHIATRIC SECTION" (0:36)

Dr. Mazer administers a psychological test to Reuben. 
Narrator: “Reuben Widdicombe was given the Leiter International Performance Test..." (0:37)

Ted tells Sophie, referring to Reuben, "He said, he’s defective..." (0:38)

Narrator: "The diagnosis of retardation was confirmed by Dr. Forbes... Reuben be placed in an institution for the mentally retarded... Mrs. Widdicombe taking custody of Reuben’s younger sister Jenny..." (0:39)

State official Dr. Lombardi asks Clark, referring to Reuben, "What’s his IQ?" 
Clark: ”We don’t go very much by IQs here.” (0:48)

Clark asks state official Holland, "... your intelligence or your need?" 
”... It happened to a sister of the President of the United States.” (0:50)

Clark tells Jean, "... if I had to have a retarded child, I’d rather have one that was severely retarded than a boy like Reuben... His parents didn’t face the fact that he was retarded..." (0:55)

Clark tells Jean, "... Others treat them with their emotions..." (1:24)

Jean tells Reuben, "... you’re going to have to behave yourself..." (1:28)

Reuben reconnects with Ted. (1:41)