NBC's 'Parenthood' offers look into life with Asperger's
NBC's "Parenthood" (10 p.m. Tuesdays) returned for the fall season last week, and one of its strongest storylines continued to be how the Braverman family is handling young Max's Asperger's diagnosis.
I found Max's story eye-opening. But I was curious about what members of the autism community thought of the show's treatment of the syndrome, which is classified as an autism spectrum disorder. Lauren Presti, director of Therapeutic Integration and Social Skills Program at Trellis Services, Inc. in Hunt Valley, shared her thoughts. I also want to hear from you. Have you seen the show? What's your reaction to the storyline? Share your opinion in the comments.
How do you feel about the show's depiction overall of the boy with Asperger's and how his family is handling it? Are there any parts that ring particularly true or false?
When we, the audience, were first introduced to Max we were able to see his lack of peer relationships with his classmates, his lack of social skills, and his inflexible thinking about day to day routines. He became agitated when his schedule changed or when he was asked to focus on something separate from his fixation points (whether that be his animals or another science fact he is stuck on). Max in these ways reminded me of some of the clients I have worked with over the years in therapy and in Social Skills Groups. For a majority of students on the spectrum, it is difficult to break away from a preferred item or topic, to show empathy, to develop peer relationships, and to change a schedule. In other words, they are very inflexible in their way of thinking about others and how they relate to others or the world around them.
"Parenthood" also gives its audience an insight into the family dynamic. We could see how the entire family responded to Max's diagnosis and struggled as a whole in adjusting work and school schedules as well as daily home routines. In my own experience, I have had parents like Max's mother who completely break down in intake or call to express their frustrations with the different therapies, diets, schools, etc. they are juggling for the benefit of their child. The frustration in the mother and even the father made the depiction incredibly true in my perspective. I would say, on the behalf of many of the families I have worked with over the years, it's the support given [that rang] false. We saw Max's parents go to a renown therapist (only after a few phone calls), receive support from his school system for a private program immediately and in ABA therapy sessions within a very short time. Although services and therapies are becoming more accessible, especially in Maryland, families are frustrated with waiting lists, funding options, IEP disagreements, and the general education about Autism in the schools.
How about his relationship with his older sister?
Haddie's character is one that I enjoy, although I wish the writers would have added a younger child to show more peer interactions at home. Due to Haddie's age, we see her more a caregiver or educator in Max's life rather than a sibling. She is flexible to his needs and follows through with the daily schedules and routines that the family has in place. Haddie is also old enough to understand Max' s earning system, his therapy, and the reason for his outburst. For many siblings of children with Aspergers or Autism, the lack of understanding about their sibling's behavior often causes another challenge in the family dynamic. Jealousy over parent's time and attention, earning charts, and cool rewards can make it difficult for siblings to be supportive. The "Parenthood" audience saw a bit of the jealously when Haddie dyed her hair to get the mother's attention or when she threw her own fit when she was told she had to adjust her plans with friends to take care of her brother. Generally, sibling groups and individual therapy is recommended for siblings of children with autism who are struggling with the adjustment.
And is the therapist's course of treatment -- and how he's responding to it -- accurate?
In general, the process of receiving diagnosis, changing schools, receiving funding and setting up an in-home program is much more complicated then seen on TV. That being said, the in-home therapy and school support is a very common and successful course of treatment. Other treatments that are recommended include: Social Skills groups or individual practice, speech therapy, behavior modification therapy and occupational therapy. With each treatment, it is important for the entire family to be involved and educated. At Trellis Services, Inc. we model our in-home therapy, early intervention school, after school program and outpatient clinic around each client and their families by providing family training and support with every individual treatment offered.
Is this the first major Asperger's storyline on network primetime TV?
It is not the first time we have seen characters that display Asperger or Autism characteristics, but it is the first time we have seen the diagnosis process, the family frustration and adjustment, and an ABA therapist working in-home with a child.
NBC photo of Max Burkholder as Max Braverman, Monica Potter as Kristina Braverman, Peter Krause as Adam Braverman, Sarah Ramos as Haddie Braverman.
Comments
We have a son with Asperger's. There are aspects of the show that are consistent with our experiences, especially the line where the sister said "It's always been about Max." But the show would have to devote every minute of every episode to Max to come close to approximating the impact an Asperger's child has on the family - Everything and Everyone is affected Every Day.
My compliments for what they've done - it's probably as much as they could incorporate into a program of this type.
Last point - most folks can't afford the in-house individual aid that this family has. Most folks have to learn about this stuff on their own, and endure a feeling of being incapable parents because they don't know what to do most of the time...
Posted by: Phil | September 21, 2010 1:30 PM
I have Asperger's, and I think Parenthood's portrayal of Asperger's rings true, though it tells viewers more about what it's like to live with an Aspie than what it's like to actually be one. Max and I don't have much in common, but he reminds me of many Aspie kids I know. I particularly like the relationship between Max and Haddie. There are just three things I wish the Parenthood writers would do:
One is to deal more with Max's sensory issues. Sensory hypersensitivities are a huge part of Asperger's, but they're probably the most overlooked part as well. For many of us, sensory issues affect our every day lives more than the social aspects of Asperger's. The only times I've ever thought of myself as disabled have been when I've been overstimulated. It's an important issue and I'd love it if Parenthood highlighted this.
Also, one episode promoted Autism Speaks, an organization that is very unpopular in the autistic community for its negative, must-cure attitude toward autism spectrum disorders. It would make me very happy to see Parenthood cut ties with Autism Speaks and promote a better organization like Aspies for Freedom or the Autism Self-Advocacy Network.
And I would also like to see Adam and Kristina tell Max about his diagnosis. He's old enough to know. It makes me sad that he doesn't. Kids with Asperger's know they are different even if they are undiagnosed, or they don't know about the diagnosis. This is something parents need to realize. Hiding the diagnosis, except in the case of very young children, does not accomplish or change anything.
The bottom line is, Parenthood is doing a good job portraying a child with Asperger's, and I'm looking forward to watching tonight's episode!
Posted by: Cicely | September 21, 2010 11:11 PM
We have a grandson with Asperger's. He has no brothers and sisters, so we are not able to comment on the sibling situation. Asperger's is 24/7 and every child/adult who has it is affected in different ways. Parenthood has done a very good job of the different experiences. Some have been consistent with our life. We hope more people watch it and learn to understand Asperger's. Plus it just a very good show.
Posted by: Betz | September 22, 2010 12:40 AM
I was apprehensive about this show, but I think they've done a great job with the subject matter. I agree that the Bravermans' ease of accessing services and finding the right school so quickly is fictional for most families. But I don't think our first IEP, which lasted 2.75 hours, would make great TV either. I remember crying uncontrollably at the scene where Max's parents find out his diagnosis. It was such a personal experience for my husband and me to have gone through just two years prior -- it was chilling to re-live that on TV. We have never met anyone else in real life who has experienced someone in authority saying "Your son has Asperger Syndrome.", but here is a TV show that hit the nail right on the head! I compare it to cancer. We all know someone who has or had cancer, we've certainly seen or read storylines dealing with cancer, and we have basic knowledge of the disease itself. When we hear that someone has cancer, we can reach back to those memories and exude the appropriate amount of empathy. That's not the case with Asperger Syndrome because it's so hidden and it's a relatively new diagnosis. People often understand the concept of "classic autism" because of Rainman, but Asperger Syndrome is hard to explain and understand. I'm so thankful that we have a show that is telling the AS story in a sensitive and mostly accurate way.
Posted by: Jenny | September 22, 2010 9:34 AM
I'd take issue that people "understand" classic autism. My son has autism and at this point in his life would never be misdiagnosed as Asperger's (at least by anyone who understands the diagnosis) as his expressive language is very limited. Various misconceptions include:
- if he doesn't speak he can't understand spoken language
- he reads without comprehension because he can't answer questions
- he doesn't have a disability, people just call everybody autistic these days
- his meltdowns and difficulties with social rules are due to bad parenting and lack of control
- since he's called "low functioning" (a phrase I hate - and means whatever to whoever) he must have a low IQ
I could go on.
There might be a fair amount of "autism awareness", but understanding is lagging far behind.
Posted by: a parent | September 22, 2010 1:02 PM
The writing or portrayal of Asperger,s in this show is very lacking and I hope that this type of behavior is not being diagnosed as Asperger's across the country. Max's character would not be as socially aware as his behavior often exhibits. The therapist is very lacking in her duties to the family home intervention or home based therapies are not for the child. Home therapy is for the family. The therapist needs to teach the parents how to address Max and prepare him for environmental and social changes. He is apparently a very high functioning Asperger's child, which if he is aware of social connections as his behavior indicates then he can deal with understanding of unexpected change if he is guided through the experience and can be for warned. Parents of Asperger's children do need to be diligent in their parenting and communication with their Asperger's child. However this is a good rule for any child and Max's parents are reactive to their son not proactive. The therapist needs to work with them on using proper language or wording with Max and being proactive or discussing unexpected changes with Max.
Posted by: Rose Cook | October 13, 2010 3:53 PM
I don't have an kid with Asperger's, but I do have a kid with Autism as a secondary diagnosis to a genetic disorder and I have been quite impressed with the Asperger's storyline on Parenthood from just a general family-dealing-with-disability perspective. I can't comment on Asperger's specifically, but there have been several moments on the show that have rung true to me (from the beginning when Adam's father insisted Max should be able to walk by the candles and Adam finally had to say "There's something wrong with my kid, Dad" to the support group Christine and Adam go to... though the setting for their support group was way too fancy). Want to say that this is not a show about Asperger's... it's a show about an entire extended family and all the various things that family goes though of which Asperger's just happens to be one. With that in mind, I think they do a tremendous job at giving a fairly realistic glimpse into what it's like.
Posted by: Jen | October 22, 2010 3:12 PM