| Autism is defined as a neurodevelopmental | | | | unrealistic expectation of recovery from autism |
| disorder that reveals itself in a pronounced | | | | and possible devastating outcome, Ms. McGovern |
| abnormal social interaction, patterns of interests, | | | | reported on three cases in which parents were |
| patterns of behavior, and communication ability. | | | | accused of killing their autistic children, these cases |
| The specific cause of autism is unknown, some | | | | occurred in England and the United States within a |
| researchers suggest that autism results from | | | | short span of one month: In one case the mother |
| genetically-influenced vulnerabilities to | | | | committed suicide, as well. In this instance, for |
| environmental triggers. It is estimated that autism | | | | three children with autism, the disconnect |
| occurs in as many as one child in 166 in the United | | | | between parental expectation and limited progress |
| States. Families that already have one autistic | | | | may have been lethal. The occurrence of parent |
| child, the odds of a second autistic child mau be | | | | killing their maladjusted child, and often themself, is |
| as high as one in twenty. Autism is 3 to 4 times | | | | not as rare as we may think.The New York |
| more common in boys. However, girls with the | | | | Times article triggered my desire to learn why |
| disorder tend to have more severe symptoms | | | | parents, mostly mothers, experienced such |
| and greater cognitive impairment.The word autism | | | | intense negative emotions that would cause them |
| was first used in the English language by the | | | | to kill their autistic children, and often themselves; |
| Swiss psychiatrist Eugene Bleuler in a 1912 issue | | | | as an act of love. Is there a social connection that |
| of the American Journal of Insanity. It comes | | | | cause parents, especially mothers, of children born |
| from the Greek word for "self." Bleuler used it to | | | | with birth defects or developmental disabilities to |
| describe the schizophrenic's seeming difficulty in | | | | experience such extreme shame and guilt?If you |
| connecting with other people. However, the | | | | are the mother of a child diagnosed with autism |
| classification of autism did not come into play until | | | | you already know that no matter what you do |
| the middle of the twentieth century, in 1943 Dr. | | | | for or with your child, you still feel guilty. You feel |
| Leo Kanner of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in | | | | guilty primarily because no one know the causes |
| Baltimore reported eleven child patients with | | | | or have a cures of autism. Therefore, you may |
| striking behavioral similarities, and introduced the | | | | feel that anything you did could be your fault, or |
| label early infantile autism. He suggested "autism" | | | | did you do everything that would help. You know |
| from the Greek (autos), meaning "self," to | | | | that your child did not acquire autism for the lack |
| describe children lacking interest in other people. | | | | of motherly love. However, you are not so |
| Kanner's first paper on autism was published in | | | | certain about that small glass of wine you had |
| (now defunct Journal) The Nervious Child. An | | | | when you were pregnant. And what about the |
| Austrian scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, made similar | | | | vaccines you allowed the doctor your child? Since |
| observations. however, his name has since been | | | | no one can tell you what causes autism, it is very |
| attached to a different and higher-functioning | | | | easy to decide that it was your fault.Let's face it, |
| form of autism know as Asperger's syndrome. | | | | society has a rich history of blaming mothers for |
| Dr. Asperger's work was not nationally recognized | | | | imperfect children; be it psychological, physiological, |
| until after World War II in Germany, and his | | | | or sociological it is always the mother's fault. After |
| major work wasn't translated into English for | | | | all, it wasn't very long ago that mothers were |
| almost fifty years. The majority of Dr. Asperger | | | | blamed for their sons' homosexuality. And during |
| work wasn't widely read until 1997.Autism may | | | | the 1940's the term refrigerator mother was |
| not be physiologically obvious. A complete physical | | | | coined as a label for mothers of autistic children. |
| and neurological assessment will often be part of | | | | These mothers were often blamed for their |
| diagnosing autism. Recently, researchers at the | | | | children's atypical behaviors. Mental health |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine | | | | professionals suggested that autism was the |
| have found a connection between autism, | | | | product of mothers who were cold, distance and |
| abnormal blood vessel function and oxidative | | | | rejecting, depriving the child an opportunity to |
| stress. The study suggest that, if researchers can | | | | bond property.Therefore, having a greater |
| discover more evidence linking decreased blood | | | | understanding of the social foundation which |
| flow to the brain and oxidative stress with the | | | | motherhood is erected it requires no great leap to |
| pathology of autism, improvement in therapy | | | | comprehend why women blame themselves and |
| could be found.During my thirty five years | | | | experience profound guilt when they give birth to |
| experience as a mental health professional I have | | | | children with life-long defects. Culture teaches |
| had the opportunity to work in several | | | | mothers that when something goes wrong with |
| community mental health programs which | | | | the kids or in the family its usually their fault. |
| exposed me to most mental disorders on a daily | | | | Many mothers internalized the social expectations |
| basis, including autism. This environment afforded | | | | that they must do everything, and do it very well, |
| me precious opportumity to interact directly with | | | | and when they fail to meet these high |
| parents and caretakers of children disgnosed with | | | | expectations; they feel guilty. The emotion of guilt |
| infantile autism. Also, as a therapist, many | | | | is not innate, or a part of the human gene pool, |
| mothers of autistic children discussed with me | | | | but guilt can be passed-down from generation to |
| their profound feelings of guilt, shame, helplessnes, | | | | generation. I am not suggesting that women are |
| and frustration being the parent of an autistic child. | | | | hard-wired to feel guilt. However, women are |
| These mothers said they often feel personally | | | | socialized very early as nurturers, and to accept |
| responsible for their child's autism, and | | | | responsibility for the happiness of others. While |
| unconsciously blame themselves.Recently I read | | | | this is an impossible and unreasonable task. Yet, |
| an article titles: Autism's Parent Trap, New York | | | | many women experience it as their goal and feel |
| Times, OP-ED page, June 5, 2000. Ms. McGovern, | | | | guilty even when they have done their best.Dr. |
| the author, aim to caution parents concerning the | | | | William Smith is a psychologist and a psychological |
| popular, but unrealistic and determination of their | | | | consultant with more than thirty years |
| abilities to enable an autistic child to lead a normal | | | | experience. Dr. Smith specializes in working with |
| life is clearly evident: And the setting for the | | | | client who requires individualized attention and |
| parent trap. To make the connection between | | | | complete confidentiality. |