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As the name suggests, Rapid Prompting Method relies heavily on prompts for the learner to respond.  When an intervention relies on prompts, the learner does not learn independence.  The documentary and the HALO website provided no information about fading prompts, suggesting that the learner may rely on them forever.  Another intervention that relies on prompting is Facilitated Communication, which has been debunked and proven harmful.  While RPM does allow the learner more independence in their letter board than in facilitated communication, the comparison is still important.  See ASHA for a chart showing the similarities.  Keep in mind that ASHA is biased, but that RPM is not evidence based and should not be used.
ASHA (2021).  Rapid Prompting Method.  https://www.asha.org/policy/ps2018-00351/

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Rapid Prompting Method is NOT evidence based. Interventions should have multiple research studies behind them, and possible clients should be VERY concerned if they see a list of reasons why an intervention cannot be researched, as was the case on the HALO website. Another red flag that can be seen with minimal research is that the HALO website places a lot of emphasis on Soma's name. Interventions should focus on the clients and not the founders.

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The Mayo Clinic acknowledges that we do not yet know the cause of autism (2018).  They list both genetics and environmental factors as possible causes for autism.  The documentary also interviewed Dr. Baron-Cohen from the University of Cambridge about family patterns and causes of autism.  He said, "One possibility is that the parents, indeed the grandparents, of children with autism have a talent at understanding systems.  That what we see in earlier generations isn't necessarily autism, but it's seeing some of the positive signs of autistic traits, which involves a very good attention to detail, being able to recognize patterns and understanding how things work."
Mayo Clinic (2018).  Autism Spectrum Disorder.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928

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Dr. Iverson is a mother of a child with autism, who sought out the Rapid Prompting Method for her son.  She was also a cofounder of the charity Cure Autism Now, which has since merged with Autism Speaks.  Autism Speaks has received a significant amount of criticism from people with autism and their advocates for spreading fear of autism, among other things.
Dr. Iverson said in the documentary that "you can have language but not be able to communicate". She claims that RPM gives individuals the ability to communicate.

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The HALO website lists 1 study supporting RPM, as well as a list of reasons research is misleading or lacking.  These reasons include wide age ranges, different skill levels prior to intervention, and different interests.  Each of these could be reasons to not research Applied Behavior Analysis, which has a strong research base.
HALO (2020).  Scientific Research into Soma RPM.  https://www.halo-soma.org/research

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Soma created the Rapid Prompting Method, which first teaches students what to choose and then how to choose. There is a strong emphasis on preventing students from stimming, which is done by providing both auditory and visual stimulation. Students make choices from presented option or communicate by "typing" on a letter board held by the instructor.

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This is a Midwestern family interviewed in the documentary. Their three sons have autism, though at the time of the interview their oldest son has received a PDD diagnosis. His mom is seeking an autism diagnosis so she can obtain better services for her son, and she has to go out of state to receive that diagnosis.

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Keli has autism.  His mother, Margret, leaves their home in Iceland to seek out information and interventions that will help her son.  Margret claims that ABA therapy has made the biggest impact on her son, but she hopes for something that will help him communicate more.  A clip is also shown where Keli is using a PECS board at school.
Keli has comorbid disorders of reflux and seizures.

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Dr. Grandin is an animal scientist who has autism. In this documentary, she focused largely on sensory issues, claiming that these are often overlooked in intervention. Stimming behaviors are self-stimulatory behaviors that people with autism engage in. Temple claimed that stimming "shuts out learning" (First Run Features, 2010). When someone with autism is stimming, they cannot be learning at the same time.

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The documentary claimed that autism prevalence was 1 in 150 children.  This was true in 2002, though when the documentary was published in 2010, the new rates were 1 in 68.  The most recent statistic from the CDC is 1 in 54 children, published in 2016.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020).  Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder.  CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

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First Run Features. (2010). A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism.

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First Run Features. (2010). A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism.

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There are many intervention options for autism, but families need to place higher value on evidence based interventions than ones with strong anecdotal evidence only, though talking to families about their experiences is a valuable way to explore evidence based practices.