“Going the Distance” Book Reviews: “Imprisoned No More” by Catherine Hughes
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Feb 6, 2022
- 3 min read
When I first learned I had autism courtesy of “Nick News” in 1998, there still was not a whole lot of knowledge about autism and neurodiversity in society. Yes, our knowledge of neurodiversity was starting to take notice aside from Dr. Temple Grandin and “Rain Man” (1988), but it was not coming fast enough.
…
Earlier in January 1998, Catherine Hughes was a single mother in western Pennsylvania and she had given birth to a baby boy named Christian. Three years later, both of their lives were turned upside down when Catherine was arrested because the manager of a restaurant that she, Christian and her parents were dining at accused her of child abuse.
Now, as I was reading this section, several things were going through my mind: First of all, as some of you may know, I cannot stand two pet peeves: out of control kids and their reprimanding parents. However, as much as it annoys me, it’s important to remember that it’s their business and not mine and I shouldn’t get involved.
If I did, I would only not only be intrusive, but also would be escalating the situation, making the parents or guardians angrier and setting a bad example for myself.
…
Autism Mom and Author, Catherine Hughes
But you know what is worse? Being in a jail cell and Catherine describes the horrors of experiencing this firsthand as emotionally and as strongly as possible.
If you recall in my review of Haley Moss, Esq’s “Great Minds Think Alike,” I discussed about Matthew Rushin, a neurodivergent man from Virginia and how he had to experience being inside of a jail cell. Being thrown in jail is one thing, being thrown in jail because you were doing your job as a parent is another.
Something else that I noticed from reading this book was the fact that even though she had been released from prison, Catherine was still in a prison, a prison of being shunned by society and being kept from her son, Christian. There are times where it feels like we are in a prison even though it may seem like we are not.
If you want a visual example of being in a prison, watch this very tough clip from “Mary Poppins” (1964) that even I have difficult watching as an adult.
…
Finally, this book further justifies that it’s important to not always listen to medical experts who don’t believe in everything. Medical doctors such as Pediatricians, are responsible for keeping an eagle eye on their patients if they are displaying signs of neurodiversity like Autism and ADHD.
In this case, Catherine was let down by the system for a time and it wasn’t until she consulted in two doctors who knew what they were doing because they cared about Christian’s well-being and overall mental health.
Unfortunately, this is an issue that is still in play today across the country. Many neurodiverse individuals are being misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all because people are relying on the advice of medical professionals who think they are all knowing.
If I could urge a recommendation, it would be to seek out professionals who know what they are doing. It may take time, but it will be worth it in the end. With this book, you can get an insight into why you should wait less than more.
…
But, overall, this is a book that will not only impact, but give you an idea that being the parent of a neurodiverse or disabled individual can have it’s challenges and I commend autism mothers like Catherine Hughes for coming out and telling her story!!
Comments