BBC documentary revisits 1968 television film on autism

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On Tuesday, 27 May, at 9pm, the BBC Four documentary series What Happened Next? revisits the BBC film The Broken Bridge made in 1968 about two autistic children - Philip Morrall and Iris Faith.

They both attended a clinic in London where Dr. Irene Kassorla practised operant conditioning. The 1968 film followed the children as Dr. Kassorla tried to help them to communicate. Her biographical profile is on her website here:

http://www.drkassorla.com/bio.htm

and her Curriculum Vitae is here:

http://www.drkassorla.com/vitae.htm

For details of the programme go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour and click on Full TV listings, then onTuesday and the name of the programme.

In 1968 I was living at home with my parents and brothers and sister, and commuting by train to work. I don't remember if I saw that film or whether I wanted to see it. As far as I remember I knew nothing of autism then. Besides in 1968 I was very interested in the news and political events happening that year. It may have been the first film about autism shown on British television.

That sounds like it would be interesting to watch.

good...will be back at home then to watch or record on sky+.

I watched it.

The old documentary footage was so unnerving. Especially the way the narrator kept calling the children "psychotic". I noticed as well the way the woman insisted on grabbing the kids, I could see how distressed they were.