autism's stepchild: a mother's story

Autism’s Stepchild is the story of a mother’s unfailing struggle over two decades to find adequate care for her daughter Jean. Misdiagnosed and misunderstood Jean had a condition that today would be understood to be autism. Erik Erikson became interested in her and counseled her family. She became the chapter “Early Ego Failure” in his classic book, Childhood and Society.

Phyllis D. Grilikhes, the author of this volume, worked with Jean after Erikson left and followed her through adolescence into adulthood to the present day.