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Autism

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Johnny Blaze May 2013 10:31pm, 8 May 2013 17,811 posts	Quote Pin Johnny Blaze I don't think Sam is classically autistic, but he has very autistic behaviours. He has a midline disorder and my non-medical opinion is that it's something to do with the structure of his corpus callosum - but I know nothing. He's non-verbal and does a lot of the flappy hands thing. He only pays attention when he feels like it and lives completely in the present. Christmas and birthdays are irrelevances to Sam. He likes lining up things and gets very obsessed about the slightest disorder to things in his comfort zone. He only eats yoghurty type things and won't even eat chocolate or ice cream or chips. However, he still seems to be developing and he does understand "stuff". But, quite frankly, autism is shit. Sometimes it feels like a life sentence, but then you wake up, you appreciate the little things and you carry on.
Chrisull May 2013 10:45pm, 8 May 2013 5,466 posts	Quote Pin Chrisull Completely separately looking forward to seeing what this book is like when it comes out, an autistic Japanese teenager's memoir, as translated by Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell and his wife guardian.co.uk
Velociraptor May 2013 10:55pm, 8 May 2013 25,249 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor I asked my son if, given the choice, he'd prefer to be the person he is but without autism. He said no, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I suppose it's better that he sees things that way.
jono May 2013 12:12am, 9 May 2013 11,988 posts	Quote Pin jono Joe now goes to a special needs school - the mainstream primary school were unwilling to support him, even with statementing, ono to one etc. On reflection Joe is very happy with his school; since going to his new school he has come on alot; he is happy to get picked up by the minbus - they have an escort. he is happy to go swimming - only because school started taking him. he will now go to the pictures. he will now go to centre parks - he hates hotels. he has stayed away from home on a school trip. he now sleeps in his own bed. his obessions are films, 20th century fox in particular. he is very routine bound, likes things to be marked on calenders. sticks to the same food will sometimes eat out, but not very often. he has difficulties with language, his writing is coming on, his numerical skills are improving., his reading is good. he does'nt make eye contact he likes the out doors when the weather is nice he is very comfortable with technology thats it really - Joe is Joe, you wonder what he would be like without Autisim - but then he wouldn't be joe, he would be another child. I think the thing that me and Mrs J have found is that you want someone to make a diagnosis, give you informed advice so you can make choices. I always think that Autisim is a bit like having a wobbley computer that needs reprogramming - Joe has to come to terms with the World - unfortunatley the world is reluctant to come to terms with Autisim, which lets face it is a funny place to be - an upside down - back to front world. We found however that in the age of self determination that its all in your hands - this means that you have to self teach, about a subject that you had no idea existed - or very little knowledge of it exisiting, but I suppose that counts for a lot of things in life. we were lucky that Joe saw an excellent Child development specialist and that we could get him into a school that suited him and is not to far away. we have alot to be thankful for and we count our blessings.
Fellrunning May 2013 7:59am, 9 May 2013 837 posts	Quote Pin Fellrunning Everyone's experience of Autism is different, because everyone with Autism is different. I'm perhaps in a unique position here(though I'm happy to be corrected if I'm not) in that I have a long and happy marriage to "my" Autistic person, and over those 35 or so years I've developed a perspective that I might not have had if I'd had a child with Autism. Strangely Jono Shel uses your computer analogy. She describes her intellect as being divided into "Mind" and "Brain". "Mind" is like a little child that is difficult to control always absorbing information, noticing things, "jabbering away" as she puts it. "Brain" is far more sober, controlling her body, breathing, speech, movement, etc,. Sometimes "Mind" gets over excited, this happens when there are too many external stimuli, like loud music in a store, or the rain hammering away on the roof. To use the computer analogy "Mind" starts to take too much of "Brains" processing ability, and eventually sensible "Brain" hits the reset button. At this point Shel has what she calls "The blue screen of death". She basically just freezes whilst she "Reboots". Its OK if you're used to it. It sends folks into a flat spin when it happens in public though....
Discovery Dave May 2013 9:23am, 9 May 2013 12,197 posts	Quote Pin Discovery Dave Wow. Thanks for sharing, FR.
Velociraptor May 2013 9:33am, 9 May 2013 25,256 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor I would love to see my lad develop Shel's level of articulacy and insight. At the moment he knows lots of stuff about autism and about why the world might not look the same to him as it would to someone without autism, but he can't internalise that knowledge and apply it to his own behaviour. It's likely to come in time. He's bright - one of the most frustrating things is that if he didn't have his social and communication difficulties he'd be unstoppable academically, but as things stand I suspect he's going to find it very hard to cope in any sort of workplace. And, bless him, he is desperate to have a job.
Fellrunning May 2013 9:58am, 9 May 2013 838 posts	Quote Pin Fellrunning Shel found it very difficult in a "standard" workplace, which is part of my reason for being ever so slightly cynical about precisely why some schools are so anxious to hang labels round kids necks. There's a perceived need in society to bash square pegs into round holes rather than find squarer holes. Shel's lucky in that she's very gifted academically and found that doors were opened because the people controlling them were, frankly, as nutty as she was (her words not mine). And the insight she has now is a world away from what she had when I first knew her. The intimacy of a relationship and three kids has helped a lot. Our Son (now 23) used to call her "The Terminator" when she had her sensory storms. "Where's your Mum?" Faux Arnie accent "She'll be back"
jono May 2013 10:13am, 9 May 2013 11,994 posts	Quote Pin jono FR thanks for posting
Columba May 2013 5:52pm, 9 May 2013 1,981 posts	Quote Pin Columba Some people (I have in mind school staff, but am sure it applies in other contexts too) seem to have almost instant rapport with autistic children. Others never ever get it, no matter how you try to explain.