Parenthood - TV show character depicts family struggles with Asperger's
Posted Sep 13 2010 8:42pm
Excerpt from: Hart to Heart: Embrace the imperfections of 'Parenthood' http://savannahnow.com/accent/2010-09-13/hart-heart-embrace-imperfections-parenthood
"...But the most intriguing plot line is the impact Asperger syndrome has on little Max Braverman's life and that of his parents, Adam and Kristina Braverman, played by Krause and Monica Potter. Autism advocates have applauded the show for putting the spotlight on the increasingly common disorder, a type of high-functioning autism.
In an episode last season, the family participated in a Walk Now for Autism Speaks event. An earlier episode featured the honest reaction of Adam and Kristina Braverman to the possibility their son might have Asperger's.
Max wears a pirate costume to school every day, fails to acknowledge other classmates and bites a kid who calls him a freak after Max keeps crumpling up construction paper.
The school's principal recommends that Max see an educational therapist. "She thinks he may have Asperger's," Max's mom (Monica Potter) tells her husband, who's in denial and argues why this couldn't be so. "Honey, there's something wrong with our baby," his wife says, pleading, "Please don't make me be alone with this."
Executive producer Katims has firsthand knowledge of Asperger's. His son has the disorder. Katims has said in media reports that it is important for him to depict Asperger's as realistically as possible. Katims said a guiding principle "was the idea that your children are never the people you expected them to be" and parents have to figure out "how to deal with that..."
http://savannahnow.com/accent/2010-09-13/hart-heart-embrace-imperfections-parenthood
"...But the most intriguing plot line is the impact Asperger syndrome has on little Max Braverman's life and that of his parents, Adam and Kristina Braverman, played by Krause and Monica Potter.
Autism advocates have applauded the show for putting the spotlight on the increasingly common disorder, a type of high-functioning autism.
In an episode last season, the family participated in a Walk Now for Autism Speaks event. An earlier episode featured the honest reaction of Adam and Kristina Braverman to the possibility their son might have Asperger's.
Max wears a pirate costume to school every day, fails to acknowledge other classmates and bites a kid who calls him a freak after Max keeps crumpling up construction paper.
The school's principal recommends that Max see an educational therapist.
"She thinks he may have Asperger's," Max's mom (Monica Potter) tells her husband, who's in denial and argues why this couldn't be so. "Honey, there's something wrong with our baby," his wife says, pleading, "Please don't make me be alone with this."
Executive producer Katims has firsthand knowledge of Asperger's. His son has the disorder. Katims has said in media reports that it is important for him to depict Asperger's as realistically as possible.
Katims said a guiding principle "was the idea that your children are never the people you expected them to be" and parents have to figure out "how to deal with that..."
Link to Parenthood's website