I write little about my personal life on this blog, but this post is an exception. I write book reviews frequently, and this post is one of those.
The book is important to me for both personal and professional reasons, so it seemed a good choice to write about. I am pleased that it made the top 5 this year.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person’s life. It affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates, and learns.
It includes what used to be known as Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorders. Due to changes in diagnostic criteria, lack of definitive tests, overlapping symptoms, and missed diagnoses it’s hard to say what the most common developmental disorder is, but autism likely falls within the top 5.
In this post I explained why I have “a different way of seeing autism.”
I suggest continuing here for an updated version of the original post.
“A Different Way of Seeing Autism”- a book review
Much of the “treatment” of autism centers on controlling so-called autistic behaviors. He believes that these behaviors are the way autistic children cope with the challenges of “sensory dysregulation.” We should address the triggers of this dysregulation rather than trying to manipulate the behavior
As soon as I started reading Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, I knew I had found answers to many of my questions and ,more importantly ,fears about autism. The structure of the book parallels my journey with autism.
Part 1- understanding autism:
For the majority of my adult life I have understood autism as a physician, which means I understood little. My training and experience as a family physician taught me the basics of autism, but little of the treatment and of the condition. My few autistic patients went to developmental pediatricians , neurologists, psychiatrists,or psychologists so my involvement was limited to their physical needs.
From my limited exposure to autistic persons, I saw autism as a life altering, disabling , untreatable condition that disrupted families as they struggled to cope and manage.
Part 2- living with autism:
My autism understanding and experience changed when I began living with autism- that is, when my 3-year-old grandson was diagnosed as autistic. At 2 years old he was not using words, even though he had been just a few months before. Other changes in his behavior concerned and alarmed me- lack of eye contact, withdrawing from me and his grandfather, ignoring what was happening around him.
Our once happy, friendly baby grandson seemed to disappear.
I remember the day I sat at my computer searching the internet for “speech delay in toddlers”. The first, as well as the next several references, all returned the same words – “autism spectrum disorders.”
I cried the first of many tears imagining what the future held for our little family.
I started reading books, medical journal articles and autism focus web sites, trying to find something hopeful and helpful to bring to my family’s autism journey. In Uniquely Human I found that help and hope.
Uniquely Human was written by Barry Prizant, Ph.D.
Uniquely Human was published by Simon and Schuster.
According to his official Facebook page, Dr. Prizant is recognized internationally as a scholar in autism spectrum disorders and childhood disabilities.
He is an Adjunct Professor, Brown University, & Director, Childhood Communication Services.
His many honors include
2014 Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association,
2005 Princeton University-Eden Career Award in autism
2013 Divine Neurotypical Award of GRASP.
He is married to Dr. Elaine Meyer, an Associate Professor and Director, Center for Professionalism and Ethical Practice in the Harvard Medical School and father of teenage son Noah, a student at Washington University in St. Louis.
In his spare time, Barry plays drums in a rock/blues band, enjoys hiking, fishing and outdoor activities, and is an avid collector of Inuit, Native American and other indigenous art, and antiques.
In his book, Uniquely Human, Dr. Prizant approaches autism from a perspective gained from studying about and treating children with autism for 40 years.
He approaches autism more “how to” rather than “what or why”. He recommends working with the child’s strengths rather than trying to change or cure their weakness.
Much of the “treatment” of autism centers on controlling so-called autistic behaviors. He believes that these behaviors are the way autistic children cope with the challenges of “sensory dysregulation.” We should address the triggers of this dysregulation rather than trying to manipulate the behavior, he says.
“The central challenge of autism is a disability of trust
Trusting their body
Trusting the world
Trusting other people.”
“The best way to help them (autistic children) progress toward fulfilling meaningful lives is
Find ways to engage them
Build a sense of self
Foster joyful experiences”
In his book, Dr. Prizant outlines ways to help autistic people . From my family’s experience, we have learned the importance of almost all of them. I list them here, along with some of my personal observations.
“Welcome them into your world”
Include them in family and social activities to whatever extent they can and will participate.
“Don’t label them – high-functioning vs low -functioning”
I was pleased to read that Dr. Prizant’s does not use those terms. As he says,
“People are infinitely complex and development is multidimensional and cannot be reduced to such a simple dichotomy. “
He goes on to call these labels “terribly inaccurate and misleading ” and that using them is “disrespectful.” The label low-functioning can become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
He concludes,
“Instead of focusing on vague and imprecise labels, it’s better to focus on the child’s relative strengths and challenges, and to identify the most beneficial supports. “
He discusses this in more detail in this article from 2012.
A False (Harmful?) Dichotomy
“Engage them; try to communicate”
Not all autistic people are verbal; but they all communicate in some way. We just need to understand how and work with that
“Give choices”
“Treat respectfully, with empathy and sensitivity”
“Meltdowns are a common occurrence with autism but are not “temper tantrums”. They usually reflect a need or want that isn’t being met, or a situation that is overwhelming or too stimulating. We try to adjust the circumstances to his feelings, not force him into something that is uncomfortable for him.
“Humor”
Sometimes you just need to laugh.
“Offer to help but no unsolicited advice or criticism”
I ask a lot of questions. Whenever I meet someone who has an autistic child or relative, a special education teacher or therapist of developmentally challenged persons , I try to learn something from them. Friends occasionally offer advice about a therapy or some facility that I often already know about. As long as it is offered non-judgmentally I appreciate their interest. So far I’ve never had anyone overtly criticise.
“Be positive; use tenderness with your honesty.”
“Celebrate with us”
Don’t be afraid to ask how things are going, as long as you don’t mind sometimes hearing the bad as well as the good.
“Trust- be dependable, clear and concrete”
I am happy to say my grandson is doing well. He benefits from speech and occupational therapy, special education in the public school, and the prayers and support from our friends and family, especially his parents and sister.
I see him and every other person with autism as “Uniquely Human” ; knowing and loving him has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined and would not want to miss.
THE SPARK- A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism
Another book that encouraged me is THE SPARK by Kristine Barnett. When her son Jake was diagnosed with autism at 2 years old, doctors told her he would never attend school for “normal’ children. Undeterred, she taught him herself, building on his strengths. By 16, he was attending college- and helping to teach classes in quantum physics.
I don’t know if Mrs. Barnett knew of Dr. Prizant’s methods, but it certainly sounds as if she used them. Or maybe she just followed her motherly instincts. Here’s how she says it in the introduction.
“This book is the story of how we got from there to here, the story of a mother’s journey with her remarkable son…it is about the power of hope and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we keep our minds open and learn how to tap the true potential that lies within every child. “
I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs or wants to know more about autism.
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