While a mother was escaping an abusive relationship in search of welfare assistance, she took her thirteen-year-old daughter along with her. “Genie,” as she was called, intrigued the social worker in the welfare office. She was mesmerized by Genie’s posture, size, and stance. Curiously enough, the worker thought Genie might have been a case of unreported autism in a possible six- to seven-year-old (Rymer 1993). As a result, the worker notified her supervisor, who contacted the police. When Genie was first brought to the hospital for tests, she weighed only fifty-nine pounds. She was incontinent, could not chew solid food, could barely swallow, and could not focus her eyes beyond twelve feet. She salivated persistently and spat erratically. In addition, she could not hop, skip, climb, or even stand erect. Most importantly, she could not speak, only whine. If I had been the first person to find Genie, I would have attempted to communicate with her in some way. I may have tried signing to her or using child-directed speech. More than likely, I would not have made much progress with either of those, so it would be likely that I would have done exactly what the social worker did…call the police for help and possibly an ambulance for medical attention. Since Genie was denied human contact for most of her childhood, one of the first things she needs is one-on-one contact with a person. Vygotsky’s idea of the zone of proximal development would be beneficial so Genie could learn how to interact with someone, while learning how to master certain skills. Genie would also need to understand that certain behaviors (i.e., urinating, spitting, etc.) are not socially acceptable. Additionally, it would be helpful for Genie to be... ... middle of paper ... ...tually responsible for language in right-handed people. Further testing indicated that Genie used her right hemisphere for not only language, but also nonlanguage functions. As a result of further testing, Curtiss raised the question that there may be a critical period for development of the left hemisphere. If that development is not successful, then later learning may be restricted to the right hemisphere. References Rymer, R. (1993). Genie: An abused child’s flight from silence. New York, NY: HarperCollins. Galda, L., Cullinan, B.E., & Strickland, D.S. (1993). Language, literacy, and the child. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Brace, & Company. Pines, M. (1997). The civilizing of genie. Retrieved from http://kccesl.tripod.com/genie.html Berk, L.E. (2010). Exploring lifespan development (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
The short documentary video “Prisoners of Silence” focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders with a clear emphasis on autism. It further delves into the rather controversial method of treatment for autism known as facilitated communication, which was first developed in the early 1990s. The video follows the introduction and ultimately the downfall of such a treatment as controversy quickly ensues after a series of sexual abuse cases and ample scientific evidence are produced.
On November 4th, 1970, Los Angeles child welfare authorities became aware of the abuse, neglect, and social isolation of Susan “Genie” Wiley. It was when social workers noticed the odd behavior of Susan after her and her mother, who was seeking financial support, walked into welfare offices. Upon further investigation, they discovered that Susan was thirteen years old and had been severely maltreated by her father her entire life. Susan’s father came to the conclusion early in her life that she was socially unfit, or “retarded’ and was ashamed of her. He hid her in the back bedroom of the Wiley home and kept her from neighbors, family, and friends. This left Susan unable to develop language skills learned from
Rowe, Peter. “Delving into the Mystery of Autism.” San Diego Union-Tribune 16 October 2001. 9 December 2001
Giving others who do not suffer from autism or caregivers an insight on how the individual may be feeling and what they are going through. This book can also help numerous medical professionals such as speech-language pathologists and pediatric doctors. As Grandin stated in the book that not all sufferers act, think, and feel the same so this novel may not be beneficial to readers who are looking for information on a wide scale of individuals who suffer from the illness. She also stated that there is no cure for autism, however some medications can help with some symptoms such as depression or anxiety. What intrigued me the most about Grandin was that she never gave up and worked on her social skills. Not only did she became a spokesperson for autism, but also became a professor at Colorado State University in which both require public speaking and being comfortable in front of people.
The Case of Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman’s determination and hard work while struggling with autism during a time when the disorder was unknown. This case discusses Grandin’s challenges, early diagnosis, growth and development in school, and support from her mother. Temple Grandin could not speak like the other children at the age of two, so because doctors could not find any physical issues she had been subsequently labeled as brain-damaged. To communicate with others, she would throw tantrums and scream. She could speak by three and a half years old with the help of speech therapy. A few years later at the age of five, Grandin was diagnosed with autism so her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to keep her from being placed in an institution. At her aunt’s ranch, Grandin develops the “squeeze machine” a device used to apply pressure without being stimulating. Grandin excelles in school and receives her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. After her graduation from college in 1970, Grandin attends Arizona State University where she earns a master’s degree in cattle in 1975. In 1989, Grandin earns her doctoral degree from the University of Urbana-Champaign in animal science. Grandin has never married, but she is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and notable lives (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).
National Early Literacy Panel, 2008. Developing early literacy. Report of the National Early Literacy Panel. Washington, DC: National Institute for Literacy.
...ears of Genie’s life in the ‘light’, scientists were giving her an immense amount of attention because of the lack of communication skills she had. They had great imaginations, as to what was going to be learned from Genie and language development. Through Genie, scientists were glad to announce they had found a “critical period” for learning language. This critical period is vital if children want to learn how to speak. Despite everything we could’ve continued to learn, Genie’s mom was not allowing any further testing. She was allowed to see one single person, but no tests were to be taken. Eventually, Genie left to live with her mother, figuring out that she couldn’t care for her. She was then placed in different mental institutions, and foster homes. The last report of Genie is 2008 living in California in psychological confinement (Newton) (Gazzaniga) (YouTube).
Somebody Somewhere offers a rear glimpse of the world of autism—from within. Australian born Donna Williams was diagnosed as psychotic at the tender age two, later as deaf, and ultimately as autistic; “Autism had had me in its cage for as long as I had ever known” (p. 5). In her book she describes her escape from “my” world, into “the” world. She talks about “picking up the pieces after a war” and “learning how to build somewhere out of nowhere and a somebody out of a nobody” (p. xi); yet she has something for everyone: “within each of us there is a stranger (or strangers) lurking in the shadows of our subconscious minds” (ibid). The author
On November 4, 1970 in Los Angeles, California Genie’s condition was brought to attention by a social worker. The worker discovered the 13-year old girl in a small, dimly lit, confined bedroom. An investigation by authorities exposed that the child had spent most of her life in this room and typically was tied to a potty chair. Genie was found in diapers because she was not potty trained. Her case is an example of extreme isolation from human contact, society, sunlight, and any other environments besides her room. The deprivation of attachment showed when she was timid to humans, almost afraid. Someone whose life was a developmental nightmare could not possibly be expected to have the basic trust that the world is trustworthy and predictable. The life she lived was incredibly horrifying as morals, and psychology portray just how severe the consequences were on Genie.
Genie’s abuse and social isolation was mainly a result of her father’s decision and justification that Genie was severely mentally retarded and believed hiding her from the world was the best option for everyone (Curtiss, 1988). The only visual stimuli that Genie could interact with were her potty chair, crib, carpet, and plain empty walls. Genie’s severe neglect and abuse in her childhood ultimately lead her t...
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