Acknowled gments This project began with a chance meeting at an Mit workshop and an exhilarating ... more Acknowled gments This project began with a chance meeting at an Mit workshop and an exhilarating introduction to the worlds of autism research, treatment, and advocacy. Without Martha Herbert's help and encouragement, i would never have been able to conduct this research or write this book. i hope that i have done justice to the generosity she showed in welcoming me into her life and work. susan Lindee, my mentor and chair of my dissertation committee, is an inspiration. she continues to teach me about what it means to be both a scholar and a good person, and her own work on emotional knowledge and biomedicine has informed every part of this project. The other members of my dissertation committee, robert Kohler and Joe Dumit, provided invaluable input at key moments. A Jacob K. Javits Fellowship from the Department of education supported my graduate work, and the first two years of work on this book were funded by a Mellon Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at cornell University's science & technology studies Department. Writing this book depended on the passion, intellectual openness, and kindness of researchers, advocates, and parents who willingly shared their work. i am grateful in particular to everyone associated with Ari/Defeat Autism now! conferences and to Jacquelyn sanders. researchers made time in their schedules to explain the technical details of their studies. owners of laboratories walked me through their facilities. Physicians allowed me into their offices and homes. Librarians at the University of chicago special collections and yale University Manuscripts and Archives collection offered guidance in navigating their collections. As this book makes clear, i am in awe of many of the parents that i met. Their devotion to their children and their intellectual creativity and resourcefulness animate this book. i shared portions of this book at a number of institutions, workshops and conferences: the "Lively Politics" conference at Uc irvine in november 2004, the Hastings center, the Bios centre at the London school of
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
: Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the sociocultural factors in the Black comm... more : Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the sociocultural factors in the Black community that contribute to a delay in identification of Black children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Four focus groups with parents of typically developing children were conducted at 2 Black Churches using a community-partnered participatory research approach and the socioecological model. Participants completed sociodemographic surveys, viewed CDC Autism Training Videos of Black children with ASD, and reported on their behavioral observations. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic data analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Results: At the individual level, participants interpreted ASD-associated behaviors as a problem of timing of developmental milestones in the course of normative development rather than a sign of a disorder and positive and negative characteristics. At the interpersonal level, the role of grandparents and extended family was important for monitoring child development. At the organizational level, racial concordance with health care providers was seen as critical because of historical mistrust. At the community level, fear of racism and child protective services and inequitable care emerged. At the policy level, there were concerns about access to affordable, high-quality care. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the sociocultural factors in the faith-based Black community that may contribute to a delay in identification of Black children with ASD. Health care professionals need additional training to effectively serve Black children and families in the face of historical mistrust and health care inequity.
Despite documented healthcare disparities among Latino autistic children, little is known about h... more Despite documented healthcare disparities among Latino autistic children, little is known about how their families experience the autism “diagnostic odyssey.” Pediatricians have a critical role in the “diagnostic odyssey,” but when it becomes arduous, parents may also use complementary health approaches, particularly when conventional care does not adequately address their concerns. Shared decision-making is important in healthcare for autistic children, especially when parents also choose complementary health approaches; but little is known about shared decision-making among Latino parents of autistic children. We conducted a 12-month ethnography with 12 bicultural/bilingual Latino families of autistic children to understand their healthcare experiences (conventional and complementary health approaches) for their children, focusing on shared decision-making. Thematic analysis revealed: (1) most pediatricians were involved early in the “diagnostic odyssey” but were largely uninvolve...
Despite calls for the adoption of 'One-Health' approaches, dog-bite injuries remain neglected in ... more Despite calls for the adoption of 'One-Health' approaches, dog-bite injuries remain neglected in healthcare and public health, and our study may help to understand why. Media coverage can influence policy directions, including policies that address dogs. We collected articles (n = 65) published in two local newspapers, 2012-2017, then carried out an ethnographically-informed discourse analysis of the dog-bite reports. The newspapers portrayed dog-bites mainly as matters of public disorder, as opposed to priorities for healthcare and public health. Even as our study took place in a city that has shown dog-bite reductions without recourse to 'breed bans' or restrictions (i.e., breed-specific legislation), journalists still tended to emphasize dog breed as a narrative element in explaining dog-bite incidents. Nonetheless, the news coverage did not reproduce a 'nature versus nurture' dichotomy. Rather, the journalists presented dog breed, and presumably associated aggressive behaviour, as entanglements with social, economic, and cultural contexts. Meanwhile, the news stories reduced contextual complexity to geographic locations, as codes for community reputation, in attributing causality and morality.
Children in the child welfare system have greater rates of obesity and are more prone to overweig... more Children in the child welfare system have greater rates of obesity and are more prone to overweight/obesity as adults compared to other children. There is limited research on how ecological, biological and developmental factors impact the trajectory of overweight/obesity in this group. This retrospective study examined these factors among children entering the child welfare system. Overweight/obesity was highest among children 12-18 years. Children with diagnoses indicative of poor nutrition, and limiting exercise, were more likely to be overweight/obese. Ecological risks often were not disclosed. Barriers to obtaining information to address overweight/obesity reflect challenges to addressing chronic disease more broadly.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are at increased risk for obesity compared to typically de... more Children with autism spectrum disorder are at increased risk for obesity compared to typically developing children. Many obesity intervention programs exclude children with autism spectrum disorder. There is little research on developmentally inclusive approaches to pediatric weight management. We examined the outcomes of children and families with autism spectrum disorder in an inclusive, comprehensive behavioral family-based lifestyle intervention. A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial on families enrolled in a comprehensive behavioral family-based lifestyle intervention was conducted. Analyses included chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests to examine family and child differences in program completion rates and multivariate regression analysis using generalized estimating equation to further examine differences in weight outcomes between children with autism spectrum disorder versus no autism spectrum disorder accounting for other covariates. There were 158 families; ...
content ... Th e superfi cially surprising fact that such diffi cult and abnormal children can ac... more content ... Th e superfi cially surprising fact that such diffi cult and abnormal children can achieve a tolerable, or even excellent, degree of social integration can be explained if one considers it a little further. A good professional attitude involves single-mindedness as well as the decision to give up a large number of other interests ... With collected energy and obvious confi dence, and yes, with a blinkered attitude towards life’s rich rewards, they go their own way, the way to which their talents have directed them from childhood. Th us, the truth of the old adage is proved again: good and bad in every character are just two sides of the same coin. It is simply not possible to separate them, to opt for the positive and get rid of the negative. (Asperger [1944]
This paper examines theories of sociality against ethnographically informed understandings of the... more This paper examines theories of sociality against ethnographically informed understandings of the sociality of children aff ected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) interacting with therapy dogs and other people. I explore from an occupational science and occupational therapy perspective how theories of human sociality inform our understanding of the ways in which a child's social engagement is supported during child-dog interactions; and how analysis of the data might problematize some theoretical assumptions about sociality, specifi cally, the primacy of language and theory of mind, and the 'humans only' position.
Acknowled gments This project began with a chance meeting at an Mit workshop and an exhilarating ... more Acknowled gments This project began with a chance meeting at an Mit workshop and an exhilarating introduction to the worlds of autism research, treatment, and advocacy. Without Martha Herbert's help and encouragement, i would never have been able to conduct this research or write this book. i hope that i have done justice to the generosity she showed in welcoming me into her life and work. susan Lindee, my mentor and chair of my dissertation committee, is an inspiration. she continues to teach me about what it means to be both a scholar and a good person, and her own work on emotional knowledge and biomedicine has informed every part of this project. The other members of my dissertation committee, robert Kohler and Joe Dumit, provided invaluable input at key moments. A Jacob K. Javits Fellowship from the Department of education supported my graduate work, and the first two years of work on this book were funded by a Mellon Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at cornell University's science & technology studies Department. Writing this book depended on the passion, intellectual openness, and kindness of researchers, advocates, and parents who willingly shared their work. i am grateful in particular to everyone associated with Ari/Defeat Autism now! conferences and to Jacquelyn sanders. researchers made time in their schedules to explain the technical details of their studies. owners of laboratories walked me through their facilities. Physicians allowed me into their offices and homes. Librarians at the University of chicago special collections and yale University Manuscripts and Archives collection offered guidance in navigating their collections. As this book makes clear, i am in awe of many of the parents that i met. Their devotion to their children and their intellectual creativity and resourcefulness animate this book. i shared portions of this book at a number of institutions, workshops and conferences: the "Lively Politics" conference at Uc irvine in november 2004, the Hastings center, the Bios centre at the London school of
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
: Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the sociocultural factors in the Black comm... more : Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the sociocultural factors in the Black community that contribute to a delay in identification of Black children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Four focus groups with parents of typically developing children were conducted at 2 Black Churches using a community-partnered participatory research approach and the socioecological model. Participants completed sociodemographic surveys, viewed CDC Autism Training Videos of Black children with ASD, and reported on their behavioral observations. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic data analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Results: At the individual level, participants interpreted ASD-associated behaviors as a problem of timing of developmental milestones in the course of normative development rather than a sign of a disorder and positive and negative characteristics. At the interpersonal level, the role of grandparents and extended family was important for monitoring child development. At the organizational level, racial concordance with health care providers was seen as critical because of historical mistrust. At the community level, fear of racism and child protective services and inequitable care emerged. At the policy level, there were concerns about access to affordable, high-quality care. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the sociocultural factors in the faith-based Black community that may contribute to a delay in identification of Black children with ASD. Health care professionals need additional training to effectively serve Black children and families in the face of historical mistrust and health care inequity.
Despite documented healthcare disparities among Latino autistic children, little is known about h... more Despite documented healthcare disparities among Latino autistic children, little is known about how their families experience the autism “diagnostic odyssey.” Pediatricians have a critical role in the “diagnostic odyssey,” but when it becomes arduous, parents may also use complementary health approaches, particularly when conventional care does not adequately address their concerns. Shared decision-making is important in healthcare for autistic children, especially when parents also choose complementary health approaches; but little is known about shared decision-making among Latino parents of autistic children. We conducted a 12-month ethnography with 12 bicultural/bilingual Latino families of autistic children to understand their healthcare experiences (conventional and complementary health approaches) for their children, focusing on shared decision-making. Thematic analysis revealed: (1) most pediatricians were involved early in the “diagnostic odyssey” but were largely uninvolve...
Despite calls for the adoption of 'One-Health' approaches, dog-bite injuries remain neglected in ... more Despite calls for the adoption of 'One-Health' approaches, dog-bite injuries remain neglected in healthcare and public health, and our study may help to understand why. Media coverage can influence policy directions, including policies that address dogs. We collected articles (n = 65) published in two local newspapers, 2012-2017, then carried out an ethnographically-informed discourse analysis of the dog-bite reports. The newspapers portrayed dog-bites mainly as matters of public disorder, as opposed to priorities for healthcare and public health. Even as our study took place in a city that has shown dog-bite reductions without recourse to 'breed bans' or restrictions (i.e., breed-specific legislation), journalists still tended to emphasize dog breed as a narrative element in explaining dog-bite incidents. Nonetheless, the news coverage did not reproduce a 'nature versus nurture' dichotomy. Rather, the journalists presented dog breed, and presumably associated aggressive behaviour, as entanglements with social, economic, and cultural contexts. Meanwhile, the news stories reduced contextual complexity to geographic locations, as codes for community reputation, in attributing causality and morality.
Children in the child welfare system have greater rates of obesity and are more prone to overweig... more Children in the child welfare system have greater rates of obesity and are more prone to overweight/obesity as adults compared to other children. There is limited research on how ecological, biological and developmental factors impact the trajectory of overweight/obesity in this group. This retrospective study examined these factors among children entering the child welfare system. Overweight/obesity was highest among children 12-18 years. Children with diagnoses indicative of poor nutrition, and limiting exercise, were more likely to be overweight/obese. Ecological risks often were not disclosed. Barriers to obtaining information to address overweight/obesity reflect challenges to addressing chronic disease more broadly.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are at increased risk for obesity compared to typically de... more Children with autism spectrum disorder are at increased risk for obesity compared to typically developing children. Many obesity intervention programs exclude children with autism spectrum disorder. There is little research on developmentally inclusive approaches to pediatric weight management. We examined the outcomes of children and families with autism spectrum disorder in an inclusive, comprehensive behavioral family-based lifestyle intervention. A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial on families enrolled in a comprehensive behavioral family-based lifestyle intervention was conducted. Analyses included chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests to examine family and child differences in program completion rates and multivariate regression analysis using generalized estimating equation to further examine differences in weight outcomes between children with autism spectrum disorder versus no autism spectrum disorder accounting for other covariates. There were 158 families; ...
content ... Th e superfi cially surprising fact that such diffi cult and abnormal children can ac... more content ... Th e superfi cially surprising fact that such diffi cult and abnormal children can achieve a tolerable, or even excellent, degree of social integration can be explained if one considers it a little further. A good professional attitude involves single-mindedness as well as the decision to give up a large number of other interests ... With collected energy and obvious confi dence, and yes, with a blinkered attitude towards life’s rich rewards, they go their own way, the way to which their talents have directed them from childhood. Th us, the truth of the old adage is proved again: good and bad in every character are just two sides of the same coin. It is simply not possible to separate them, to opt for the positive and get rid of the negative. (Asperger [1944]
This paper examines theories of sociality against ethnographically informed understandings of the... more This paper examines theories of sociality against ethnographically informed understandings of the sociality of children aff ected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) interacting with therapy dogs and other people. I explore from an occupational science and occupational therapy perspective how theories of human sociality inform our understanding of the ways in which a child's social engagement is supported during child-dog interactions; and how analysis of the data might problematize some theoretical assumptions about sociality, specifi cally, the primacy of language and theory of mind, and the 'humans only' position.
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Papers by Olga Solomon