"This Is Autism" - not quite
days to disney
As a rule, I do not watch very much T.V. - OK it's true, you will catch me watching Dance Moms now and then. However I did hear about a documentary called, This Is Autism, that was going to air on Discovery Fit & Health Channel and obviously it caught my interest. So I sat down and watched.
Please note - the following is my opinion only.
It was the most depressing view on Autism that I have seen. Had I had viewed this in the days or weeks after Hope was diagnosed, I think I might still be in bed crying.
Please note - the following is my opinion only.
It was the most depressing view on Autism that I have seen. Had I had viewed this in the days or weeks after Hope was diagnosed, I think I might still be in bed crying.
The documentary by Louis Theroux followed the lives of three families with Autistic children. It showed what I believe to be very severe cases of Autism. Yet, it gave the impression that this is Autism in general. That is what bothered me the most.
It never discussed at what age each of the children were diagnosed, what kind of early intervention they received early in life and the extent of their therapy now in relation to their home life. .
One boy, who was older was prone to violent outbursts. When they occurred, he had to be physically restrained by mom or dad, or the school staff. It showed mom actually lying on top of him until he settled down. She wanted it to be filmed so "the world" could see what the moms of Autistic children go through - again very generalized.
My heart went out to her. But at the same time, I wondered, what self regulation strategies were implemented when this boy was 2 or 3? In other words, did his early therapists work with him and his family to teach him how to calm down by himself and re-group? This is something we are focused on with Hope right now.
I think most of the children in the film attended a
private school for Autism in the state of New Jersey. They seemed to all be making progress at school, but at home, they seemed not connected with anything. The parents didn't seem to know how they should fit in.
Yet again, I see the beauty of homeschooling. I can't imagine putting Hope on a bus in the morning, her spending all day in an artificial atmosphere and then getting off the bus and me expecting her to function in her life at home. How is that possible?
Most of the parents who were interviewed sounded and appeared "beaten" down. In one instance, Theroux asked one mother, "Does Autism define you and your family"? Without hesitation, her answer was emphatically "Yes". I thought that was really sad.
It never discussed at what age each of the children were diagnosed, what kind of early intervention they received early in life and the extent of their therapy now in relation to their home life. .
One boy, who was older was prone to violent outbursts. When they occurred, he had to be physically restrained by mom or dad, or the school staff. It showed mom actually lying on top of him until he settled down. She wanted it to be filmed so "the world" could see what the moms of Autistic children go through - again very generalized.
My heart went out to her. But at the same time, I wondered, what self regulation strategies were implemented when this boy was 2 or 3? In other words, did his early therapists work with him and his family to teach him how to calm down by himself and re-group? This is something we are focused on with Hope right now.
I think most of the children in the film attended a
private school for Autism in the state of New Jersey. They seemed to all be making progress at school, but at home, they seemed not connected with anything. The parents didn't seem to know how they should fit in.
Yet again, I see the beauty of homeschooling. I can't imagine putting Hope on a bus in the morning, her spending all day in an artificial atmosphere and then getting off the bus and me expecting her to function in her life at home. How is that possible?
Most of the parents who were interviewed sounded and appeared "beaten" down. In one instance, Theroux asked one mother, "Does Autism define you and your family"? Without hesitation, her answer was emphatically "Yes". I thought that was really sad.
Towards the end of the show, one of the mom's admitted her fear that her son would end up in a residential home. She said that inevitably, this was to be the outcome for all of "these" children.
When Hope was diagnosed, I too heard those words from the doctors - "severe" & "profound". But the fact that all of her therapies - all of the hard work we do, takes place where it matters most, in the environment in which she needs to function everyday, I believe, makes all the difference.
Perhaps Mr. Theroux will do another documentary on Autistic children who are homeschooled. How curious would that be? I would have to find some time to sit down and watch that too.
Perhaps Mr. Theroux will do another documentary on Autistic children who are homeschooled. How curious would that be? I would have to find some time to sit down and watch that too.
I appreciate the families who made this documentary possible. I feel their pain because I walk the same journey. However, I hope that other parents who view this film do not think that this is nessesarily the outcome for their children. It does not have to be. I would tell them to read the works of Temple Granden.
For the record, I do not feel that Autism defines me or my husband, or my daughter Julia or even Hope for that matter. Rather, I believe that it is our family and how we function with the challenges of Autism in our lives that enables us to define a single snapshot of Autism.
For the record, I do not feel that Autism defines me or my husband, or my daughter Julia or even Hope for that matter. Rather, I believe that it is our family and how we function with the challenges of Autism in our lives that enables us to define a single snapshot of Autism.
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