In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan, Caren Zucker. This book was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize. John is a journalist, broadcaster and debate moderator. Caren is a television news producer who has worked most extensively with ABC News. She also produced and cowrote a six-part series on autism for PBS in 2011.
The subject is certainly a challenging topic for many. Likewise, this book should be mandatory reading, not just parents of an autistic child. In fact, this can be used as a 101 textbook for society.
John and Caren are providing a foundational history of Autism. In fact, they are indeed providing the historical context to understanding medical and social developments in treating children. There is certainly a wealth of insights for any reader. Much of the discovery will surprise the reader.
Instead, their approaches treating children for “autism” began in the 1930s. Historically the examination of treatments for children labeled insane span the early 1900s. However, a significant European study was delivered on June 4th 1944. However, D-Day landings insured the report would be given little attention across Europe and in America.
John and Caren introduce Donald Triplett, the first child to be documented with autism. Dr. Leo Kanner who published a landmark paper Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact in 1943 established Donald’s diagnosis.
This contradicted the tale of Bettelheim’s theory of autism, in which the lack of a mother’s warmth to her child was the source of autism. This theory is also known for some reason as Refrigerator mother theory due to the term established in the mid 1950s as a label for mothers (or fathers) of children diagnosed with autism or schizophrenia
Early treatments were certainly harsh
However, harsh developments and painful lessons from the medical community are deeply disturbing. For example, the notion that mothers were responsible for their children’s condition flourished. Treatments for autism in the 1960s included LSD. This is certainly stunning, considering the historical records of LSD treatments.
Parental initiatives to help their children
Accordingly, John has documented many treatments of children deemed insane by the medical community. The stories of how parents began to push back against schools who denied their children an education, was certainly interesting. Schools were subjecting their children to state mental institutions. Indeed, many parents were advised to simply ‘give up’ their children and continue on with their lives. And yet, with all the confusion and mixed messages from medical experts, heartbreak and tragedy are further documented.
The origin of Asperger syndrome
This includes parents who spent their life savings seeking any treatment for their child, resulting in the complete abandonment or in rare cases, murdering their own child. Yes, a parent so despondent seeking treatment for their child with severe autism tragically shot his son to death. This is truly heartbreaking.
The origin of Asperger syndrome
In fact, John does not hold back on the divisive history of treating children for autism. Many will certainly find the development of Aspergers syndrome somewhat circumstantial. Hans Asperger did not align his study to the growing Autism condition. He held a position that while similar, his study later branded as Aspergers was different.
Yet, John reveals the medical community later confirm Asperger was a Nazi doctor who did not object to the systemic killing of children deemed not worthy of the Nazi party’s pure race practices. In addition to this horror, their brain’s were removed for further study by the Nazi doctors. John and Caren provide the right historical research into this shocking period of history.
Making great strides
In conclusion, this is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. This is also very timely as we continue seeking today the best scientific treatments for those afflicted. I see the scientific approach similar to Michael Lewis’ work The Undoing Project.
I cannot stress enough how important this book brings to the forefront the important issues for our society as we seek to further understand the impact of human rights, child development, the history of psychiatry, and public policy surrounding Autism. In various aspects.