Autism From a Historical Perspective
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This story opens in June of 1987 with the then 85-year-old Katy relating her girlhood at the turn of the 20th century.
The flashbacks start in 1908 with the then-nearly 6-year-old Katy, her friend Jessie and Kate's future fiance, Austin. The trio remain lifetime friends.
The bulk of the story takes place in 1911. Katy, then nearly 9 learned what the word "maternity" means when she reads it in a dress catalog; her sister Mary is born that year and Nell, a farm girl comes to stay with Katy's family as a helper. Nell comes from a large family and her brother Jacob, 14 has been called "touched" as in "touched in the head." In today's world, Jacob would most likely be considered to have a form of autism.
Largely nonverbal, Jacob wears the same hat; enjoys the company of animals and retreats from people and noises. At best, he stands quietly when Katy shares the news of her day with him.
Katy's father is a delightful character. A country doctor, he often takes his daughter on his rounds. A feel and flavor of small town America is beautifully portayed in their horse-and-buggy trips. Jessie's family is proud to be the first on their street to own a $900 Ford, then a rarity.
Katy's father lets her come with him to the Asylum, a gray stone monstrosity on the edge of town. I like the intelligent discussions and honest answers he gives her; he tells her where babies really come from; I like the compassion he displays towards people in the Asylum. He is a remarkably astute man who understands Jacob's behavior such as the boy's rigid adherence to routine and how that, and his ubiquitous hat make him feel safe.
The story of Jacob closes on a sad note. He gives Katy a kitten and applies this act to an unrelated situation. Sadly, Jacob fades out of the town and, at the story's close nobody knew of his fate.
Katy takes readers on a history tour; she marries Austin in 1928; Jessie's brother Paul is killed in WWI on June 5, 1918 after dropping out of law school. The Asylum is closed by 1960 and Katy, mulling over her life, decides never to share the story of Jacob with her children and grandchildren.
While more progressive minds have prevailed in recent times in re autism, sadly these myths and misperceptions crop up from time to time. The 1988 movie "Rain Man," which I have come to hate is about an autistic savant who was institutionalized because of an unfounded fear he would injure his infant brother. The term "Rain Man" is considered offensive in most autism circles. In 1911, the word autism had yet to be coined and sadly, tolerance was a rarity. Katy's father was ahead of his time.
I liked the use of historical photographs and the author interview which was included in this book. That made a good thing even better and the photographs brought the times covered to light.
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