Alan's Life Without Apology

Without Apology reflects the process of a sister searching for answers and bringing to light her family’s dark secret. Alan was a young boy who at a very young age, was diagnosed with autism and intellectual impairment. His disappearance and family silence of his whereabouts-left Susan Hamovitch with questions about her brother Alan and his placement at the mental institution Ledgeward. His departure left the family with a secret that many outsiders did not know. It left a sense of shame at the decisions made by both parents, as they felt responsible for Alan’s mental condition. Susan at one point felt humiliated by her brother and never spoke about him with family or friends. His unhumanlike behaviors lead to her constant frustration. The …show more content…
How can a parent be so inhumane and leave their children in an institution? The feelings and reactions were rage, a sense of helplessness towards young Alan. I am not perfect to judge another person reasoning, but I do have a sense of compassion for others. So many words and images were racing in my head. Why? How? When? Why did Alan develop this mental incapacity? How did he feel? Did he know what feelings are? How can a young boy learn to live a normal life when not many resources are available? I was looking at the face of Alan and trying to figure out if he at such a young age had a remote idea of what was happening. I was looking at his many facial expressions that conveyed a feeling that only he knew. As Susan began to tell the story of her family the puzzle that was broken into pieces started to become a puzzle …show more content…
From the documentary I learned that families sometimes have to make decisions for their child that one day they might regret. One should be aware of how to interact with families and children with disabilities. As an educator, I anticipate educating others on disability and how one can make a difference in the life of a family or child. This has allowed me to better understand the true meaning of mental disabilities and how they can affect a child who lives on a daily basis with this disability. The perceptions and reactions of numerous people in the film have made me realized that there are people who care and strive to service and support the people who encounter