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.