Savants and Rain man

BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer of The Sentinel
Savants are defined as people with developmental disorders who may have one or more areas of expertise, ability or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations.

While there may be another savant in the world, there's only one whom many people are familiar with: Dustin Hoffman's character in the 1988 film Rain man. ." On April 23 in Edison, Kim Peek, the man whom Hoffman's character portrays, came with his father, Fran, and spoke to a group of about 100 people at the Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center as part of the New Jersey Council for Exceptional Children's spring event.

According to Fran Peek, his son finished his high school graduation requirements by the age of 14.

"Education has always been important to me. People told me that my son wouldn't live past 9 months or even 18 years," Fran Peek said. "Now he's 57 years old. Even though my son wasn't born like the other kids, I was always determined to make sure that he had an opportunity to get an education in this world."

Throughout Kim's younger years, Fran said that his son received plenty of attention because he was "different," but not necessarily in a bad way.

"It was obvious to many people that he was very knowledgeable, even at an early age," Fran Peek said. "But as time went on, he just started to soak everything up."

In 1984 they were connected with Barry Morrow, who would go on to write the screenplay for the movie. But first, Hollywood bigwigs needed to get Fran's permission.

"When we first met Dustin Hoffman, he was truly amazed with Kim," Fran said. "He was stunned that Kim knew so much about so many different things. Dustin encouraged me to bring Kim out into the world. He felt that my son would grow from the experience, and he was right. It really has been a good thing for us. It's been an opportunity to raise awareness about those who are savants."

Fran said that after the movie "Rain Man" came out, his son received plenty of attention. One of the areas of expertise that Kim was able to show off was his musical acumen.

"People wanted to see if Kim knew anything about music, being that most savants do," Fran Peek said. "Within three to five notes of hearing a song being played on a piano, he knew the name of the song, when it was composed, and who composed it. He knew this for plenty of songs."

Years later, Kim was taught how to play the piano in a mere three minutes.

"People told us forever that he would not be Rain Man physically capable of doing this. He can play Bach with ease, no problem at all," Fran Peek said.

According to Fran, his son is an engaging personality, readily able to work a room during a question-and-answer session and pose for pictures while signing copies of his book, "The Real Rain Man."

During the recent presidential campaign, Fran told of a one-liner his son dropped at a speaking engagement that left many in the crowd laughing hysterically.

"My son said that he was pulling for Obama to win because it'd be the first time in a while that Washington would be in the black," Fran Peek said.

Fran that he and his son are still in touch with Morrow from time to time and are truly thankful for the opportunity that they were presented with nearly a quarter-century ago.

"If it wasn't for that, maybe those that are savants would still be looked down upon," Fran Peek said. "Sometimes, though, people just have to push their kids to be their best. Inspire them. Exhibit some patience with them."

On this night in Edison, Kim Peek left those who attended the function with one very important message.

"You don't have to be handicapped to be different," Kim Peek said. "We're all different. We all look different and sound different. None of us are the same in a lot of ways."

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