On parenting and Asperger Syndrome: NBC’s Parenthood

Great new network television shows don’t come along that often, especially not ones that deal with such thorny issues as autism. I’m a TV junkie, I confess. That’s why I am so happy when a quality drama like NBC’s “Parenthood” comes along. Parenthood contains all the makings of a great television show: quality writing, excellent cast and realistic storylines that skillfully walk the line between comedy and drama. The story revolves around four siblings and their respective spouses and children, together with their parents.  It’s not the first drama about a dysfunctional family, and it won’t be the last, but it’s a family drama that works because the characters are interesting and quirky and we relate to their challenges.  Unoriginal genre aside, Parenthood does feature a storyline that makes it unique.  In the very first episode, we are introduced to a couple slowly realizing that their son has Asperger Syndrome.  By the second episode the diagnosis is confirmed and the parents experience a whole gamut of emotions so typical when receiving this type of news: devastation, denial, fear, confusion, and then inevitably, “what now?”  

What I love about this portrayal is how accurate it is.  Apparently the accuracy is not coincidental. It turns out the shows executive producer Jason Katims is the father of a child with Asperger’s. In interviews, he has said that he wanted to portray the disorder in as accurate a light as possible. He does so successfully, not only by showing the quirks of a child struggling with an autism spectrum disorder (not the least of which is that the boy insists on wearing a pirate costume to school every day), but by showing how his parents and extended family struggle with understanding and ultimately accepting. By the second episode, the parents turn on what I call the “Mama Bear” instinct, stopping at nothing to try to find a way to help their son.  Determined to find the best treatment, the couple turns to friends who have an autistic child, who proceed to bombard them with information about every therapy ever associated with autism. It’s a humorous scene, if not sad. Ultimately, the couple turns to a Behavioral Psychologist who provides guidance and reassurance of what every parent in this situation wants to know, that their child is going to be OK.  Also true to life, the couple has to move heaven and earth and jump through hoops to skip through the 12-month waiting list just to get an appointment with this specialist.  This is not uncommon with the very highly sought-after Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intervention.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the story continues to unfold. If you missed the first few episodes, you can get caught up online at nbc.com and watch current episodes Tuesdays at 10 pm on NBC. There are some good takeaways here for parents when first learning that their child may be autistic. Seek out answers among knowledgeable resources.  Find community and support among trusted professionals as well as other parents who have been through this but don’t believe every anecdotal story of therapies that have no scientific basis.  No two children with autism are alike and what works for some, may not work for others. Treatment plans must be individualized to meet the needs of each unique child. Lastly, make sure the treatments you try are research-based and above all, safe.

Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a developmental disorder.  It is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior.