The portrayal of autism and how others around it are affected, to me, is accurate for that time period. The public wasn't sure how to respond, for example, when Raymond took the "Do Not Walk" sign literally and stopped in the middle of the street. The man started yelling at him, not knowing that Raymond didn't understand. Charlie's character is a little different, I feel like he wanted to show compassion for his brother, but wasn't sure how, and until he figured out how to show compassion, he didn't. Towards the end of the movie Charlie showed Raymond how to dance, and made a joke that Raymond laughed at, and I think at that point Charlie realized that he really liked having a brother, and was starting to figure out how to communicate with him. . I think those who have a loved one with autism could relate to this. They start out unsure of how to show love and compassion, but slowly learn how and what to do