Isabel Grinker on Unstrange Minds
February 26, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
George Washington University anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker writes about his daughter Isabel’s reaction to the responses to his new book, Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism:
Just last week, I showed her two magazine articles about my new book on autism, in which I talk about how far she has come — farther than my wife and I, or our doctors, ever expected. “What do these articles say?” I asked. “They say I’m doing great,” Isabel replied. Indeed, she is.
Isabel’s words appear at the end of an excerpt from Unstrange Minds entitled Rare No More: With Research Up and Stigma Down, Autism Sheds More of Its Mystery in the February 27th Washington Post.
Thanks for sharing this, Kristina. I’ve been thinking a lot still about the forum’s conversations regarding blogging about our children and I’m still wrestling with it in my head. Isabel’s interpretation (albeit still a child) offers another interesting perspective to consider.
I have been thinking of the importance of assuming that Charlie is looking over my shoulder—-yes, I’ve had that discussion on my mind, too. In one or both of Clara Claiborne Park’s books, she mentions her daughter’s curiosity about the book about her.
Something to think about, Doc Chew. I betcha, when he’s old, and yer gone, he’ll be very happy to have such good documentation of his childhood. I wish that I could have such.
Now, it being public, he might get mad at you about that later, maybe not, who knows?
Richard Grinker here. Isabel began to understand the word autism just a few years ago. I really think it has helped her in some ways. Her sister, an avid springboard and platform diver, has physical therapy for an inflexible shoulder and Isabel compares herself to her sister. She said, “I have speech therapy, and Olivia has physical therapy.” Also, the other day, exasperated that she wouldn’t lift a finger to bring a plate to the sink, I pointed to her sister doing the dishes and said “Look at your sister, she’s helping, why can’t you help?” Isabel responded, “I’m not the same! I’m unstrange.” Good result or bad?
Some of the discussion lately has had me thinking about the issue of what we say about our kids online, too… I have decided that it’s too important to share the positive message of life with autism in the light of the reality of our lives & so will continue to do so, keeping in mind the importance of being respectful of Brendan & Charlie at all times as I write about my family & also that this is my story that I’m telling, not Brendan’s. In other words, I’m not speaking for him.
Brendan has also been aware of the word “autism” for a couple of years now. We tend to use it interchangeably with Aspergers & he does, too. Last summer I interviewed him in my blog about Aspergers & how he feels about it. Always good to know…
Lisa, do you have the link for that post? I can put it up here.
He he he, that was cute about Isabel, Dr. Grinker.
Kyra at This Mom (http://www.thismom.com) also posts on her son talking about his having Asperger’s Syndrome.
Thanks to Richard Grinker for sharing more about Isabel here—–
Thanks for the link, Kristina! I really appreciate Kyra’s buddhist perspective, since I’ve found a lot of help & comfort there as well.
I also enjoyed the additional quip from Isabel about being “unstrange”- it sounds very much like something Brendan would say…