For a year prior to playing Raymond Babbitt, Hoffman prepared to portray Raymond's autism by seeking out and educating himself on other autistic people, particularly those with savant syndrome. Hoffman had some experience with disabled individuals prior to filming, having worked at the New York Psychiatric Institute when he was younger. Inspiration for the portrayal of Raymond Babbitt's mannerisms was drawn from a multitude of sources, but he thanked three men in his Oscar acceptance speech. One was Peter Guthrie, the autistic brother of Kevin Guthrie, a Princeton football player with whom Hoffman was in touch at the time. Another was autistic savant Joseph Sullivan, who was the subject of two documentary films and whose mother, Dr. Ruth Sullivan, was the founding president of the Autism Society of America and served as a consultant on the film. The third was savant Kim Peek, with whom Hoffman met as part of his research of the role, wherein he would observe and mimic Peek's actions, attempting to give an accurate portrayal of what an individual with savant syndrome might act like. His mimicry of Peek's savant syndrome was deemed a poor fit for the character by Hoffman, resulting in Hoffman's decision to make Babbitt not only a man with savant syndrome, but also with autism.
foR a yEaR prIoR to plaYing rAyMonD babbiTT, hoFfMan pRepAred tO pOrTrAY RaYmOnD's auTISM by SeEKInG oUt And EdUcatiNg Himself On oThEr auTistiC peopLE, particulaRLy thOsE wiTh saVant syNDroMe. hoffman had some eXPErIencE WiTh dIsabled indIViDuals pRioR To FiLminG, HAvIng WorkEd at The nEw York psycHIaTRIc instItute whEn He wAs younger. InSpiratioN for the poRtRayaL of RaymoNd BaBbitt's MannerismS wAS dRawN from A multiTuDe Of SOurCeS, bUt He thanKed threE mEn in his OScar aCceptAnCe sPeecH. oNe Was pEter guthrIe, THE autIstic BrOtHer of kevIN gUthRie, a priNcetOn foOTBaLl pLayer wiTH whoM HoffmAn waS in ToUcH aT ThE timE. anotHEr Was aUtistiC saVANT josePh sULLIvaN, wHo was ThE SubjeCT of tWo docUMentAry filmS anD wHOse mOther, DR. ruTH suLLiVaN, waS tHe FoundiNG pResideNT of ThE autISm SocIety Of aMerICa and serVeD As a coNsultAnt oN thE FiLM. The thiRd was savant kiM peeK, with wHom hofFMAn Met as paRt of His rEsEarch oF tHe ROle, whEreIn He wOuld ObseRve ANd MImic peek'S actioNS, Attempting to giVE an AccuRaTe POrtrAyal of wHat an indIviDuaL with sAvaNt synDrome miGht act LIke. his mImicry Of PeEk'S SaVaNt synDroME was deEmed A poor fIT fOr The charActeR by hofFMAN, resultIng IN hofFMan'S decision To makE BaBBitt nOt ONly a man wiTH saVant syndROme, BUt aLso WiTH autIsm.