NBC's new show 'Parenthood' gets a lot of things right and some things not-so-right about high-functioning autistic children in its first three episodes. The first two episodes establish that parents Adam and Kristina Braverman's son Max has some particular sensitivities and a propensity for tantrums and by the end of the second episode, he is diagnosed with Asperger's. In the third episode, Max is kicked out of school for breaking a fish tank and the Bravermans embark on efforts to get him into a high-priced private school for high-functioning autistic children.
While it's heartening to see a focus on children who are borderline or 'mild' on the spectrum and the struggles of a family to come to terms with a diagnosis, it's disheartening to see how easily the Bravermans solve the problem of Max's school placement. It's great that the availability of specialized schools is brought to general attention, however, by skipping over the typical process of working with the public school district's support programs, early intervention programs, or intermediate units, an opportunity is lost to focus on options that do not involve paying high fees for private school. Since the show is set in Berkeley, California, it's not necessarily accurate to represent the area as lacking for resources for children with Asperger's. A perusal of the Berkeley Parents Network's discussions on special education may be interesting for first-person experiences with Berkeley's public and private schools and surrounding districts' offerings.
It's also surprising that Max Braverman's doctor doesn't recommend him for a behavioral or learning support program, or blended services such as wraparound which can be very helpful for high-functioning autistic children who don't qualify for more intensive services. A Behavior Support Consultant (BSC), Mobile Therapist (MT), and/or a Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS) person could work with a child like Max in a home setting to provide a behavioral treatment program in tandem with his doctor, for instance. He could also be assigned an aide for school to help with situations like the fish tank incident.
In the Philadelphia-area, all five counties surrounding the city and the city itself have an array of resources for high-functioning autistic children. Wraparound services are administered at the state level in conjunction with local counties and other agencies. Philadelphia-area Intermediate Units are a good starting point for seeking out services and discovering what is available within your county.
What the show does get right and provides a poignant insight into how the world might seem to an autistic child, is Max's reaction to the fish tank. The sound of the bubbles in the tank is amplified and the focus of the camera is close on his face while he's trying to deal with that sound. This conveys a sense of the frustration Max must feel about the constancy of the sound and how it's disrupting his ability to concentrate on his school work. It can be difficult to understand why autistic kids react so strongly to things that seem normal to us. Showing us how something as seemingly innocuous as fish tank bubbles can be a big deal to an autistic child is a small detail with a lot of meaning and provides a window into perceptions of children on the spectrum.
How the show deals with the reactions of Max's family members also feels authentic: each family member reacts a little bit differently, be it initial denial and lack of understanding or older sister's Haddie's disbelief at her parents' shock. This range of reactions points out how important it is to have strong support systems in place, not only for autistic children themselves, but their parents, siblings and other immediate or extended family members. In the Philadelphia area, check with the local Intermediate Unit, county behavioral health services for parent and sibling support groups, or online groups such as the Autism Child Care Connection Network or the Autism Society of America - Philadelphia.
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