Refrigerator Mothers Analysis

The feelings a parent faces when diagnosed with an autistic child can only be described as guilt, pain, panic and disbelief. Where the dreams of their child surviving all the years of educational schooling and therapy and becoming an independent adult start fading; yet there are success stories of those who did. The Internet has made it possible for parents to have access to a great deal of information about treatment for ASD. Unfortunately, much of the information is not based on solid scientific evidence that demonstrates

When my granddaughter was first diagnosed my daughter took it hard she cried wounding how she was going to protect her daughter form the world? She then began to educate herself on the disorder searching the internet, talking to other mothers with children who wear autistic. I watched her day after day making appointments, trying to find the right school, right therapists, hopping that her child would have good friends, the list goes on. The constant work she is did for her child I thought was amazing, she has had good help but I feel that if there was more awareness for expecting mothers maybe she would not have been so over whelmed and when learning about the disorder she would have been a little more prepared. Her main question was how does a child become autistic, was it that she did something during her pregnancy, was it genetic, or maybe it was something that happened after

Leo Kanner (1943) believes autism is a result of emotional deprivation. He notes that parents of autistic children are intellectually and analytically oriented, but lack emotional warmth (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).Some psychodynamic theorist believe autistic children were born normal, but became autistic after experiencing painful interactions with hostile or cold parents (Hansell & Damour, 2008). The term autistic implies a failure to effectively relate to the environment. Autistic individuals are perceived as elusive and distant (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Behavioral programs are most effective with autistic children and are used to teach them language, communication skills, self-care, and adaptation to the community (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

In regards to the documentary, I found Patricia’s story to be particularly triggering! The video presents Patricia as an active drug user, involved in prostitution while being 9 months pregnant. As a mother, I can easily become judgmental with Patricia’s behavior and attitude towards her unborn child. As a social worker, however, I need to be aware of these triggers and remain committed to providing the necessary support and resources to help Patricia take better decisions and improve her quality of life. Additionally, as a social worker I need to be mindful of Patricia’s past experiences and be aware of the complex factors that lead to Patricia’s current context.

In this case study Helen has autism and the speech and language therapist is able to work very closely with Helen’s parent. Every child’s parents know their child better than anyone else as they are with them 24/7. However Helen can only be helped to a certain extent, not every parent will have the same amount of time to care for their child. We have found out that Helen goes to a special nursery but not every child gets the same amount of help Helen is getting

In the mid 1900s, psychiatrist Leo Kanner and a pediatrician Hans Asperger used the same word “autism” for a condition where children had deficits in socializing and forming contact. Stemming off the greek word “autos” meaning self, Kanner stated that autistic children had good cognitive potential yet they had islets of ability meaning their intelligence was focused in silos. There was an assumption that autistics were incapable of intelligence and were mentally disabled. Later, Laurent Mottron discredited the theories that autism is caused parents or “refrigerator mothers” and shed light on the fact that neurotypicals lack the abilities of autistic savants. The view of individuals with autism is skewed and as Amanda Baggs shows in her vivid video describing her behaviour, it

Has since been disproven. • 1940’s – Autism formally identified • Hans Asperger – spoke of the highly intelligent • Leo Kanner – described classic characteristics • Bruno Bettleheim –inability to develop empathy skills because of ‘refrigerator moms’ 18 Historical Trend Timeline • 1964 – Bernard Rimland – Argued autism was biological in nature and not a cause of “refrigerator moms”. Pioneered concept of rewards and punishments for children with autism. • 1990’s –

This is why it is important that parents become trained in ABA. However, it is important that parents do not think that one approach will solve any child 's autism difficulties. The idea of using a “cookbook recipe” to fix their child is something that must be thrown out the window and techniques that encourage parents to become educated about the broadness of autism should be used. This includes learning how their child functions and ways to help design a ABA for their child rather than basing it off of statistics (Dillenburger et al.,2004).

When a child has the capacity to understand they are able to attend LAC reviews and contribute to their assessment giving them a sense of control over their own lives, feel like their opinion is valued and that their assessment is specific to their individual needs. In cases where the child lacks the capacity due to the level of autistic spectrum disorder there is a need for their needs to be met via advocacy.

When I flipped through the pages and read the words it seemed that David illness took a backburner to Catherine need for normalcy. David, seem to be shoved onto his sister to babysit, the responsibility of caring for someone with special needs, is not fit for a 12-year-old girl. Catherine parents, both seem to have some avoidance issues, their mother worked from home or made calls as she pushed David on the swing and she used valuable time with her daughter to sit in a waiting room. Their father neglected his family responsibilities with gardening and work, he took David to the video store every day at five. But, even that cause unnecessary stress for the kids because their father lacked the ability to be on time. One of Catherine’s rules was, “Late doesn’t mean not coming,” and I think for most people that would be acceptable. But, individuals with Autism set schedule as a way of life and having the schedules or rules broken can be very traumatic. Those are the things we should aim to teach others about

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Waiting for the tests results, I find myself flushed; perhaps my blood pressure is rising. Sitting in a small windowless office set off from the main waiting room my knee begins to bounce in anxiety. This was the moment of truth. I’m awaiting the results to find out if Lillianna tested positive for Autism. I stand up and begin to pace hoping the colorful pictures on walls that were designed to relax and entertain kids will have the same affect on me. My mind begins to relive this epic battle I have found myself on; the battle of strength and acceptance of my daughter Lillianna, as I become her voice in the face of this disorder.

Target consumers and the condition now: Students in the college. Most students (up to 52%) are likely to accept an increase of $75 per year to use a Microfridge, and at $50 per year the interest level is 90%. But the authority suspects the quality and the security of the product.

A pilot study by McLeod (1999) over three years, with a sample of eight adults, using case studies and both qualitative and quantitative methods of research (including questionnaires, interviews and follow-up) described parents of individuals on the Autism spectrum, as ‘the

Refrigerator Mother Theory. Initially, Leo Kanner (1943), a child psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins University, introduced the term “early infantile autism” in 1943. He considered that the refrigerator mother triggered early infantile autism. In other words, he believed that the autism was developed after the birth, and lack of parental warmth triggered children to become isolated from the society. Consequently, those children who did not receive enough care exhibited autistic like feature, meaning “alone or self” in Greek. Furthermore, this idea was strongly supported by Bruno Bettelheim, Austrian-born American child psychiatrist, for two decades. He similarly claims that the autism was caused from mother withheld appropriate affection toward their children and failed to make a good connection with them during infancy (Bettelheim, 2010). Moreover, he states that weak or absent father would likely cause autism, since children would not receive enough paternal love. In both cases, psychiatrists in mid-twentieth century believed that the autism was developed from children not receiving enough love, warmth and care from their parents. Moreover, they believed that good parenting could alleviate children from becoming ASD.

Kanner observed that the parent-child relationships in cases of children with autism appeared to be somewhat unusual. This suggestion fit with the tenor of the times, in which psychology and psychiatry were dominated by Freudian theories. They suggested that children developed the syndrome as a result of cold, abusive, or confusing home environments (references were made to “refrigerator mothers”), and early