So now The A Word on BBC has reached its conclusion. The parents have decided they love their child as he is and have found the strength to tell other people about his problems. Aaah, how lovely...
It seems this programme was written to show the struggle parents have with coming to terms with their child's autism. I'm not one, so I'd be interested to hear what parents of children on the autism spectrum thought about this series.
I know it's a drama, not a documentary, but as an adult with aspergers who has no obvious learning or communication problems and isn't a savant, I'm just a little disappointed with the way the child was portrayed and the way it might create a stereotype of those on the autism spectrum and lead some people to disbelieve that people who appear "normal" can be on the autism spectrum.
As a child I would chat away quite happily to most adults. Joe was described by his mother as being chatty at home, but we didn't see this. I thought she was lying to the psychiatrist because she didn't want him to be diagnosed, but I'm not sure if that's right? Did the writer just choose not to show this side of the child's character? I'm confused, what did other people think about it?