Chris Packham's documentary on autism

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on Chris Packham's documentary about autism? Just watched it.

Thank you. We won't we going down that or likely any other path. For us it's enough to know.

I loved the documentary in so many ways, but I really agree with the points others raise about the spectrum being so broad that my situation with. HF ASD dx will be totally different to someone with a child with more severe difficulties.

For those that are interested the TED talk by Temple Grandin is also worth a watch, it gave us inspiration and cause to see my sons diagnosis differently and much more positively.
^ed.ted.com/lessons/the-world-needs-all-kinds-of-minds-temple-grandin^

We had recently sought advice from a charity on helping our son with some social communication difficulties, I am actually very wary now because I think they are based on an ABA philosophy and I vehemently disagree that my child needs to change his autism, he just needs a practical toolkit to help him cope in certain situations. I'll be looking very closely at their approach before committing.

The kestrel thing was so sad. I'm glad he's found his niche though.

Sorry I think that's really over simplistic.

@BarbarianMum what do you mean it's over simplistic? Genuine question.

This was an excellent documentary and I think CP will win some awards for it.
I hope it won't get bogged down in people arguing about a cure. There are a lot of people with Aspergers who can take hope from Chris's story.

As a fellow aspie I thought it was wonderful. He was very clear that his life, his experiences and his feelings about autism are unique, just as everyone else on the spectrum will have a unique perspective. He didn't project anything onto others so I can't feel offended that he was angry at the suggestion of a cure.

However, I found the relationship with his girlfriend difficult to watch. She appeared to be brimming with resentment and hurt and I wavered between pity for her not getting what she craved from him, and anger that she had such unrealistic expectations of a person with autism. All I could think was 'if it's not working for you then end it!

ABA techniques don't have to be barbaric- they cherry picked horrible examples in the documentary.

It can just be a way of learning new skills through incentivised repetition, no? If you lay off when a child doesn't want to do it, but keep going back and encouraging exposure to the new skill it can be useful. I may be missing something, but I don't see it as much different to 'now and next' if 'next' is always a more favourable activity. However, I have not been trained in ABA so my experience of it is limited to reading and using 'motivator' based strategies (such as now and next) in my own practise.

its other people's shittiness and nastiness towards autism that's the problem

It is a bit simplistic. If you are so stressed out by eating anything other that dairylea triangles that you are facing being peg fed, it's not a problem to anyone other than you. However accepting society becomes of a dairylea only diet, you will never be able to live on it. Just one example.

There's nothing wrong with learning new skills. Chris Packham talked about how he learned to make eye contact and other social skills that don't come naturally. But if autistic people are wary of ABA then perhaps it needs to be scrutinised to see if it is being practiced in a way that is kind and beneficial.

AFAIK, CP is self-diagnosed.

Mike the programme publicity stated Chris Packham was diagnosed as having Asperger's in 2005, and has spent the time since then coming to terms with that diagnosis.

I found the programme very illuminating and came away with respect and admiration for CP. I understand now that autism is part of who he is and he feels it to be a gift which has enabled him to succeed in his field. He seemed, on the face of it, to have found a balance in his relationships.

I have worked with people affected by autism in varying degrees, and I can relate to the concept that no cure is required but rather understanding and nurturing. In mental health this is probably not the cheaper option which is why people are finding themselves being forced into mainstream society. The US section with regard to Silicon Valley tech companies employing and mentoring people with autism was good to see.

ABA may be society's answer to autism but it may not be autism's answer, is what I took away from the programme.

I hope CP continues to present his fascinating programmes, his enthusiasm and intelligence are missing in so many presenters on scientific subjects. I won't name them...

I was diagnosed this year and I found it really good. I wasn't convinced his GF looked happy but then she said she was so she must be ok with how their relationship is. Sometimes I wonder how my DH puts up with me but he does.

I've also discovered that Sir Anthony Hopkins has it and was diagnosed in his 70s. Guy Martin also has it, there was an article in the newspaper a few months ago. It's good that more people are talking about it and 'coming out'. I'd love to see some high profile women come out and say they have it as it's well known it presents differently in women and girls.

There is another thread about this.
Of course he's diagnosed!

I had a feeling his girlfriend was a little socially awkward herself and maybe found it difficult being filmed. I did read a funny review in The Guardian that pointed they both said the best thing about the other was that they weren't boring.

ABA is barbaric, not simply because of the punishments they used to use that have now been replaced by rewards, but because of the persistent repetitive nature of the training for hours and hours and hours every week. When a child has to repeatedly conform and perform to the adult instruction, yes they will do it, but if often involves suppressing other feelings. That can have a huge, long-term, negative effect on the child's mental health.
The whole methodology is flawed. It's all about what the adult wants to see, nothing to do with what the child needs or what is causing any of the difficulties the child might be having.

I love Chris Packham

Great documentary. I have a lot of respect for CP and how he is so open about his life in this documentary. I agree that when high-functioning a niche is imperative. I have missed this for myself but I have recognised this early on with my DS and am encouraging and nurturing his special interests/talents.

I couldn't help wondering if he'd still be with Charlotte is she didn't have a zoo.

Thanks missfliss just bought her story, the girl who could see in pictures for my kids would be interested in the grown up version.

Going to watch the documentary with DP, our youngest in going through diagnosis just now. The most worrying part for me is the PICA he's only little though so hoping it won't last forever

My dp has Asperger's as does his father who has it worse he's high functioning I didn't know he had it until he was diagnosed. It's exhausting, the bluntness the obsessions about very boring subjects the lack of intimacy and affection, the selfishness that he doesn't recognise I think I would cure the negative parts of his Asperger's.

I've got Aspergers and thought the programme was brilliant but my heart went out to those children in America that they were trying to "fix". Scared them into compliance more like.

Maybe look for a partner that you actually like, and don't see so many integral parts of him as 'negative', then lilly?

lilly0 never said that she didn't like or love her partner.

Yes well Potatoe my son is seven has nonverbal and in nappies if i could cure him would autism is a spectrum not everyone is high functioning .

His opinion of ABA and his standpoint in the cure vs acceptance debate are obviously from the viewpoint of someone who is high functioning, so other people might have very different feelings about it I was interested in that. I used to work in residential care and I used to feel for parents who were getting older and worrying about the future. I think it is different for someone who is successful to reject a cure than for a parent looking at a life in care for a much loved child.

I felt sad for his step daughter, she clearly loves him very much and I hope he goes to her graduation.

I have a family member who is non verbal and very ‘low functioning’. Her parents would seek a cure for her in an instant if they could. One parent cries every night thinking about what will happen to her child after the parents are dead. I can understand that people with HFA or any other people might have different views but it is acceptable to want a cure for something which makes your child unable to live an independent life. That doesn’t disrespect the different views of those who wouldn’t want a cure. It’s impossible to ask the person with autism (and learning difficulties) whether she would like a cure or not because the ability to answer, and process it, is beyond her. But we all want our children’s lives to be as good and painless as possible, generally, and for these parents (and for those of us in the family) the autism makes this very diffficult to achieve.