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What is it like for people with autism, living among others yet always, in a sense, living alone? And how do their parents cope, as they care for them? Built around several case studies, this program distinguishes between high- and low-functioning autism; illustrates structural and functional differences between autistic and non-autistic brains; considers genetics, neurological diseases, and immune system anomalies as possible contributory factors;...
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As tragedies in Oregon, Arkansas, and Colorado have shown, children as young as eight years old are capable of murder and violence. Experts ranging from law enforcement officials to guidance counselors are confused and conflicted about how to approach this tragic phenomenon. Best-selling novelist Jonathan Kellerman returns to his roots as a scientist and child psychologist to dissect a problem that is attacking our society: dangerous children who,...
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Einstein, Beethoven, Mozart, Van Gogh: all displayed symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. But not every person with Asperger's is a genius. This program follows a self-described eccentric who, after discovering he matches up with the general Asperger's profile, sets out on a quest to learn all he can about the disorder-and whether he truly does have it. Along the way, he speaks with author Michael Fitzgerald, Professor Temple Grandin, Professor Alan Snyder,...
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It is the size of the frontal cortex that helps separate the human brain from that of other animals. This part allows humans to communicate, infer meaning, and imagine, all basic to the socialization process. But there is a group of people, primarily males, who lack a small piece of this frontal cortex and who suffer from a mild form of autism. Identified as Asperger's syndrome in 1940, this condition makes them incapable of everyday social interactions....
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Dekel Shekarzi, a 21-year-old who defines himself as an actor, a poet, a dancer, and a romantic in love with love itself, is defined by many others not by who he is, but by what he was born with: Down's syndrome. This engaging documentary follows Dekel in his everyday life, which is anything but "everyday. For him, faith, hope, and willpower have fused together to fuel his dreams. Film of Dekel on stage and at home, candid interviews with his family...
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Autism, a complex developmental disability, is generally believed to be a genetic disorder. But Dr. William Walsh, a senior scientist at the Pfeiffer Institute, believes he has isolated a biochemical cause, based on analysis of blood, urine, and hair samples from 503 autistic children. His pioneering research attributes autism to the inability of a protein-metallothionein-to balance the body's metal metabolism. In this program, Dr. Walsh discusses...
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Chad is mesmerized by trains. Mikki's passion is washers and dryers. And for Derek, life is a game show, where he is the host and anyone within listening range is a contestant. While these boys might seem like any other children, their intense obsessions are early symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. In this program, ABC News correspondent Jay Schadler reports on that neurological disorder, which makes normal interactions with peers virtually impossible....
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David Vandenbrink seems like a normal, bright, articulate 21-year-old man. There is little to suggest, on the surface, that while in his mother's womb he suffered permanent brain damage. David suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS, a condition that went undiagnosed for the first eighteen years of his life, causing confusion, anger, and pain for him and his adoptive family. The damage from FAS can be subtle or severe, resulting in a wide range...
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Bridget, 15, cannot go near her own parents because she fears they are somehow "contaminated." Rocco, 9, dissolves into tears whenever he tries to leave for school-consumed by anxiety over what could happen once he steps outside. Michelle, 13, spends hours in the shower. These children, along with about one million others, have OCD. This edition of Primetime tracks the treatment of Bridget, Rocco, and Michelle as they attempt to reclaim their lives...
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Filmed successively in 1978, 1988, and 1997, this award-winning program tracks Lily, a person with Down syndrome, from childhood into adulthood. 'Lily: A Story about a Girl Like Me' introduces Lily at age 10 and in third grade, where, as a pioneer for mainstreaming, she is filmed coming to terms with both academic and social pressure. 'Lily: A Sequel' catches up with Lily at 20, with scenes of her triumphant graduation from high school and of her...
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Without remorse or empathy, psychopaths control, even kill, others for personal profit. But every psychopath starts out as a child. Using interviews with forensic psychologists, child psychiatrists, and a 17-year-old named Jonathan who is serving a sentence for first-degree murder, this powerful film elucidates the factors that can transform children into psychopaths. Dr. Elliott Barker, founder of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty...
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Four years have gone by since the two preschool boys profiled in Autism and Applied Behavioral Analysis began intensive ABA therapy-formerly considered controversial, but now hailed as one of the few effective approaches to treating the disorder. This ABC News program brings viewers up to date on the boys and further explains the benefits of ABA in treating autism. But the program communicates a sense of frustration, as well-with the financial expense...
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In its strictest sense, the term art brut refers to art created outside the boundaries of official culture and often focuses on the work of people who live in mental institutions. This program focuses on the art of Josef "Pepi" Hofer and several other artists with mental retardation and similar disabilities as it captures them in workshops and at a showing and award ceremony at The House of Art, Munich. Although not designated as art therapy, the...
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Secluded in upstate New York, a facility known as Camp Tic-a-Palooza welcomes young people with Tourette Syndrome. This ABC News program profiles several camp attendees, focusing on the challenges, triumphs, and emotional impact of living with TS. Ten-year-old Sid's symptoms include frequently sticking out his middle finger. Amanda displays a menagerie of vocal tics, often hissing, barking, or roaring at others. More troubling are 13-year-old Isabella's...
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As an educator, working with a learning-disabled student requires being adept at problem-solving, analyzing tasks, figuring out different ways to teach the same thing, and tailoring the method to fit the child. In addition, the teacher must be able to communicate to the student how he or she learns most effectively and what techniques and methods best enhance that learning process. In this program, Sally L. Smith addresses this complex teacher/learner...
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To fully prize diversity, a school must embrace differences in students' abilities and learning approaches as well as in race, gender, ethnicity, and so forth. And to reach special needs children, teaching styles themselves must also be diverse. This classic program with Sally L. Smith stresses the importance of individualized instruction for students with learning disabilities and ADHD and discusses how teachers can develop unique strategies and...
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattentiveness, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. In this program, therapists, teachers, parents, and patients offer their insights into living with and overcoming AD/HD. The benefits of a treatment approach combining ongoing psychological assessment, specialized classes, and carefully monitored use of Ritalin or similar medications are cited....
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Research has shown that some children with autism who are enrolled in a curriculum of applied behavioral analysis at a young enough age can be mainstreamed right into the public school system. This ABC News program profiles two children with autism who receive this intensive form of therapy and discusses the mixed results of it. Although the degree of improvement attributable to ABA varies from child to child, any gains, large or small, are of immense...