Type of bind: Paperback
EAN num: 9782290306789
ISBN number: 2290306789
Label: J'ai lu
Manufacturer: J'ai lu
Page Count: 315
Printing Date: April 13, 2000
Publishing house: J'ai lu
Sale Popularity Level: 6481746
Studio: J'ai lu
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When Sean was born in late 1961, very little was known about autism, which was very first diagnosed in 1943. Dr. Asperger for whom Asperger's Syndrome was named recognized similar behaviors in 1944. Those who specialized in treating people with autism more often than not relied on Kanner's, or Infantile Autism models. Scant attention was given to Asperger's Syndrome, which is also considered to be a form of High Functioning Autism. Sean, however was diagnosed at 4 with autism in 1965.
Sean's behavior was indicative of autism from infancy. He loved to drop things down the vent holes; self stim; throw toys up into trees because, as he later explained, he "liked to see things going up." Sean's mother developed a punitive relationship / response to Sean and, by her own admission was conditioned to respond negatively to him. Sean later said he would not have been able to pick her out of a group of women until he was 5.
Sean's sister Megan, born some 2 years later sounded like a really good influence on Sean. I loved her aversion for dolls and displeasure over how too many books with female characters relegated them to gender biased activities. Extraordinarily bright and verbal, Megan was Sean's biggest ally.
Nonverbal until he was nearly 5, Sean's rigid eating habits and love for routine all pointed him closer towards the autistic end of the autism/Asperger's (a/A) scale. Diagnosed at 4 and already medicated and in therapy, Sean's progress remained uneven. One doctor actually spanked Sean after being told about how the boy screamed at restaurants whenever a glass of water was placed on the table. I was thoroughly disgusted with the man and wondered why he was not brought up on charges. He had no authority to so much as lay a finger on that child! The boy's mother felt he was making some progress and continued with Dr. Rossi, which I just could not understand. I was glad that Sean tuned him out. I also loved it when Sean shook off his father and mother after he broke his arm in 1964-1965 so he could engage in his brand of play.
Sean also tuned his own father out because, as he would explain later, he had a severe communication disorder. Luckily for Sean, his father taught in their home district, so he was mainstreamed for the very first few years. His 4th grade year was traumatically interrupted when in February he was enrolled in an unsatisfactory boarding school. He served 9 months there and was miserable. I just loved it when Megan said she hoped Sean would forgive them for putting him that school.
Once back in his home district, Sean continued to make acceptable progress in the class, but had trouble on the homefront. In 1975-76, Sean's father, irate over the boy's seeming lack of responsiveness, snubbed him for 8 whole days. Sean made every effort to get back into his good graces and it was so heartwarming when he succeeded.
It was interesting that Sean knew he was autistic since he was 10. He was lucky to have had this information. Even so, social nuances remained a challenge; another setback occurred in February of 1976 when his beloved maternal grandmother died.
Since autism and Asperger's are on the same neurosensory spectrum, there tends to be overlapping behaviors. As Sean got older and cognitively learned social expectations, his behavior moved him closer toward the Asperger's end of the spectrum. His poignant wish to "get a sense of humor" when he was in middle school was indicative of how subtleties, including humour are often learned "cognitively" by people on the spectrum. He also had to be taught why jokes worked; how; and why timing and delivery were important. Inane sitcoms such as his beloved "Gilligan's Island" was a very limited and restrictive portrayal of one type of humor. Still, Sean made strides.
More changes were on the way; he suffered through a megavitamin regimine and was luckily withdrawn from it. A group of bullies were called in on their cruelty to Sean; they were told that Sean had autism and one boy even apologized and never once harassed him after that.
In 1978 the Barrons left Ohio for Los Angeles; it was there that Sean, largely thanks to his sister navigated through the tricky social terrain of his new high school. He still had routines he had to follow; he often misread responses and had trouble understanding interactions. In early 1979, the movie "Son-Rise," based on the life of Raun Kauffman aired on television. Sean instantly "recognized" himself in some of Raun's early behaviors; at the end of the movie he discloses that he is autistic and for the very first time in his life had a heart-to-heart talk about autism and why he behaved the way he did. Although the movie was overly maudlin and paled considerably subsequent to the book, "Son-Rise," the best thing about it was that it proved Sean a chance to speak for himself.
The Barrons remained in California ... Read More
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