Autism in my family.

RE: Autism in my family.

Hello,

None of my familywere diagnosed as beingautistic.

However,having worked for a number of years as a teacher with young people on the autistic spectrum, i think autism isn't always recognised.

So it's possible to go through the education system, or be excluded from it, without receiving the support needed.

It's down to funding and the system rather than anything else.

I have seen the results too when a school (teachers and pupils) and family work together to enable a pupil with aspergers to find a way to fufill their potential andplay an active part of the school community.
This is always joyful.

RE: Autism in my family.

Hello Bindi, I do agree" i think autism isn't always recognized". And this can be hard on the teacher at times.
I remember when Joshua was ready for nursery (at the time I was not shore what Joshua had wrong with him) I left him withthe nursery staffas he seem fine. On my return I was told that Joshua was a danger to himself and the other children:(. I was lost as what to do. But the lady that ran the nursery said that she woulds apply to the council for a one to one teacher. Joshua ended up with three different teacher before he left nursery.
Joshua was due to start infants, so off we go, but I knew that there were things wrong with josh ofwhich I explain to his new teacher (she was very young lady) and tryed to understand.

I went to pick Joshua up from school and the teacher was quite stress and said Joshua was a handful;).Joshua had a one to one at nursery, suddenly he was free:D.
Over the weeks the school decided to put him forward to hospital to see what was happing. Joshua was then put on special need register. We had allot of up's and down's in the Infants school. I think I cry so many tears during that time.
Joshua is now attending juniors and in the first six weeks he has read ten reading book and just loves it there. He now eats more, hesits on the toilet were he had never done before. his communication skillare so much better also. I took my son to my doctor many times because of his bowel problem, but I'm afraid never had any thing done, walk out many times crying and fustrated.
Only just recently I havea new doctor lady in the hospital(because the old doc retired and forgot about Joshua, long story)who has been great and had his bowls check right away. Joshua had a blockage for along time she said. So with medication and persistence we worked together and succeeded in helping him over come his bowel problem, with out an operation.

These children just need to be understoodby teachers, parents, doctors, we just all need to work together for the good of our children with Autism in main stream school.
Joshua can take time to release words, so patients is required at times, but in a class of 40, this can be difficult for teachers I know.
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x
edit: I putwrong weeks

RE: Autism in my family.

It can be a long journey, and as you rightly say Lightwinds, requires lots of patience, courage and determination with everyone pulling together.

Sounds as if your storyhada 'joyful' outcome which will no doubt encourage others too.

RE: Autism in my family.

I hope so bindi [sm=hug.gif]
love and blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x

RE: Autism in my family.

Mycousin has aspergers and my nephew has autism.It was a huge learning curve with zillions of books to read to try and understand this world where very often they are boxed in as naughty or difficult.I also work with young adults with severe autism and challenging behaviour providing aromatherapy massage.As autism is amulti sensory disfunction,aromatherapy works really well,touch sound and aroma.Its a part of my therapy world that i love.x

RE: Autism in my family.

Has anyone heard about the latest news on autism - which I saw on TV here in Oz just last week - where parents of autistic children had had VERY FAVOURABLE results by cutting out wheat and dairy products from their childrens' diets...some parents were in tears (of joy) saying they could not believe the difference in their children.....do try it, and see if it helps.

RE: Autism in my family.

hello janec, great job you do [sm=hug.gif]and thank you for shareing.

Hello petcat, yes I been doing the same with josh, his food has all change and it been really good to seem him improve in many ways. Im always looking at reading up on other country and autism veiws thanks for shareing[sm=hug.gif]
blessings
lightwinds
Wendy x

RE: Autism in my family.

ORIGINAL: bindi

Hello,

None of my familywere diagnosed as beingautistic..
So it's possible to go through the education system, or be excluded from it, without receiving the support needed.

Thanks for putting this bindi.;) It means such a lot to read someone else has been through the same thing. Two of three of my "kids" who are now 20 and 24 have Asperger's Syndrome and like yours has never officially been diagnosed. My son had been seeing clinical psychologists, educational psychologists and later a psychiatrist from the age of 2 and he's now 24. My daughter was about 6/7 before she was referred to these people. To cut a long and difficult story short not one of these professionals was willing to diagnose Asperger's officially for either of them even when they started self harming as they felt trapped within their conditions. Both got depression at one stage which was a "side effect" of the underlying problem. It was a former psychiatric nurse who has a son with Asperger's who suggested my daughter had the condition......this lady wasn't treating my daughter, who by this time was 17 - she was simply a Student Advisor at the local college where my daughter had been placed on a course (against her will by the local young employment agency Connextions) She had been observing my daughter's eccentric behaviour over a period of a few weeks before contacting me and asking about my daughter's background. She asked me to read "Asperger's Syndrome" by Tony Attwood - a classic of this condition. I looked at the checklist of questions and both my daughter and my son answered a resounding YES to most of the answers. They too agreed it was them after all these years!!! Everything, all the misery of 17 years, slotted into place. There was now an answer to all the problems there had been (for about 18 years in my son's case ) and Asperger's was the reason. BUT I have never been able to get the condition officially diagnosed by any medical professional. Our family doctor, who I have a lot of respect for (He looked after all my pregnancies) seemed quitedefensive to my suggestion that my son and daughterhad AS despite my saying my reasons for thinking so and us all studying the book and "checklist" in it. He was downright dismissive and wouldn't discuss my fears. Also a psychiatrist whosaw my daughter about 3 years ago challenged me by asking why was I so keen to have her condition/mindset (she wouldn't phrase it or name it other than say she thought my daughter was immature for her age) She asked WHY did I want a name for it and she too wasn't happy about it being called Asperger's Syndrome. I explained we wanted to know as it would answer the years of disruption and unhappiness of both my son and daughter. I said my daughterwas unable to mix and hold down a job in the normal sense and she was isolated and had no friends of her own age. I again referred to the concerns of the former psychiatric nurse and the RECOGNISED checklist of the condition in Tony Attwood's book.I also said that my daughter would then be eligible to apply for a benefit - think it's Incapacity Benefit to help with the quality of her life.This psychiatrist didn't want to get involved and made me feel as if I was simply being a"pushy" mother rather than a concerned one. She just said she would put my daughter on a waiting list tosee another psychologist for yet another assessment. Needless to say, 3 years down the line we never heard . Both my son and daughter now say "What's the point? No one does anything to help." So that's the experience in our family.

We get by as best we can.[:o] My son became sodisruptivealmost 3years ago that I had to ask him the leave the family household, he was tearing everyone apart.

RE: Autism in my family.

Thank crystalspirit for sharing your story. I have read alot in the healing forum about your son, and you had a tuff time. I know it will help many when they read your story.
love and blessings
lightwind
Wendy x

RE: Autism in my family.

Dear lightwinds [sm=hug.gif]

Ah, bless you for your kind comments.[sm=1kis.gif] Even if nobody read everything I posted above it made me feel better to put it into words!

I wish you and your Joshua all the best - will be thinking of you. I must admit that it helps when you realise you aren't alone in such experiences.......because I felt for many years I was banging my head against a brick wall [sm=banghead.gif]

Lots of love to you and everyone else dealing with the same issues in their families.

Crystal Spirit XXXXX

RE: Autism in my family.

I work with some children with ASD in a nursery and it is really inspiring to hear parents working so hard for their children. Keep it up because even if you feel like you do not have support and you are not getting anywhere I see the difference in the children whose parents are putting in the effort. They know that you care and will work hard for you.
Keep your spirits up.
Think good and it will be good.
Chaya.

Importance of nutrition

I have fairly recently discovered a nutritional supplement which gives you 46 of the most important nutrients we need on a daily basis, in a form which is very pleasant to take (drink which tastes like 'bubblegum' according to many, and tablets which can be easily crushed & taken with food), and because it helps to sort out digestive problems first, improving absorbtion & detoxing the body - it ensures that you get to absorb 98% of the nutrients it contains!! Very beneficial effects are being reported by people and families with autism spectrum disorders & would be well worth trying. It seems to help sort out the 'wiring ' of the body which may not be functioning in the normal way - certainly parents have reported that their children are much calmer and more relaxed, able to cope better. There are no chemicals or fillers added & it's from natural organic vegetable sources, so suitable for everyone.

If you'd like more info, let me know send me a PM or email me good luck!:)

My sister has severe autisum as well as epilepsy and Tuberiscurious (think I spelt that right). She has suffered with it all her life. She is 25 years old now. She is so enegjetic and is always full of life. She stays in a care home Monday- Friday and then comes homes at the weekend. Its hard knowing that I can only see her at the weekends and when we go to visit on Wednesday evenings but I have got used to it now. Sometimes I get upset because she cant do things that me and my other siblings can. She cant get married or have children or do anything like that and she cant communicate well with other people but at the same time I wouldnt change anything about her because she is so special and lovely.

My son is autistic and is 4.5 years old. Didn't know until he was a least 2. He's smart with letters and numbers, but he gets upset at weird things and it's hard to take him out in public. Has to eat a special diet all the time without sugars and breads. We love our son Derek very much but this is very stressful on the family...everyone keeps giving you different advice on how to handle him. He repeats the same things a lot. Can't carry on conversations or have friendships with kids his age.