What is a Savant?
Savant syndrome is a condition where individuals with developmental disabilities or intellectual impairments exhibit extraordinary abilities in specific areas, like mathematics, music, art, or memory. These abilities often exceed what is typically expected for their cognitive level and are distinct from the overall disability. While sometimes associated with autism, savant syndrome can also occur in individuals with other developmental conditions or brain injuries. Dr. Darold Treffert referred to these areas of intactness as "Islands of Genius"
On July 11th 2025, we hosted the first ever global celebration of savants, which we call:
The Legacy of Darold Treffert, MD
Darold A. Treffert was an internationally respected researcher in autism, hyperlexia, savant syndrome and related conditions. He was also a psychiatrist and research director who specialized in the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders and savant syndrome.
His book Extraordinary People was the first work to comprehensively summarize what is known about this fascinating condition. Dr. Treffert was also a consultant to the movie Rain Man, in which Dustin Hoffman portrayed an autistic savant.
