alibaly

Sonia my parents also had anough points as they both had sought after professions but my mums heart problem worked against them. It was only by pure chance that someone my dad knew remembered reading about an obscure law that meant the could be claimed as my sisters family. I often wonder though if the couple of years they stayed down under was actually worth all the hassle they went through to get there. I wish you well and hope you'll soon be on your way to a new life.

Strange girl I mean for you to just switch it off and lay down new ground rules, basically say, " enough is enough as this is taking over your life and its time it stopped." Re-negotiate the whole thing but remember you are the parent and you make the rules, I know that sounds hard but maybe if you put a reward system in place for when he does it your way he'll see that this can be to his benefit. Buy a couple of cheap alarm clocks with different sounds and set them to go off at certain intervals so he has fair warning before he is supposed to finish his game. I wouldn't worry too much about finding other things for him to do at this stage, I think that once you have switched the machine off you'll be able to find things for him then. Desperation can work wonders at times Also, I really do think you'll just have to ride the meltdowns out, it won't be pleasant for anyone and they may get worse before they get better but it really will beworth it in the long run. hth

Just switch it off, yes it will mean meltdowns etc for a while but it will be worth it. To soften the blow you can tell your son prior to it going off why it is going off, that he can use it but only at certain times and for so long each day. hth

Daisy, I also forgot to add my son studied in Melbourne, he says it's a fantastic place but he did feel that autism awareness was rather dire, my soon to be Australian daughter in law is of the same opinion. I think I can actually recall him saying it was no place to be autistic, which was saying something considering where we live. How did my son end up in Australia? Its one of the best places in the world to go for an education and many of the kids from here now go to either Australia or NZ for their further studies instead of the States and the UK. MY other son did 2 years in New Zealand before transferring to Scotland and I was very very impressed with their standards as well, he only transferred because he just never really took to NZ. My daughter has 2 expat Australian teachers and in my view they are probably amongst the best in the school. I have contact with 3 Australians on another list who've sadly not had the good experience within the education system that Hailey has had, I also know a professional working within the education system and can put you in touch with them if you like. Here's a link to a document you may find interesting. http://www.autismsa.org.au/pdf/about/Schoo...al%20Report.pdf hth

Diasy when I replied to you I couldn't find the exact words I was looking for as I'd had a long day, thankfully waccoe has said exactly what I wanted to say. You ask if this can really be the case? The answer is yes and as waccoe says NZ operate a similair policy. My mother fell vicitm to this policy, she had a heart problem which started in her teens and when she was about 45 her and my stepdad applied to emigrate to NZ. She'd never lost a days work in her life because of it but was refused admission on the grounds she would be a drain on medical services. Eventually they did manage to go but only because my birth dad (he'd re-married and kiwi and settled there ) claimed her/them on my sisters behalf as they were her family, my sister was married with 3 children at the time and had lived there for 15 years but it was my birth dad who had to do it . Even so it took a long time and involved decisions being made at high levels via their MP, I also suspect that my birth dads connections in a certain organisation helped a lot as well. Whilst they were waiting for all of this to happen they also looked to Australia, they quickly decided against it someof the questions on the appliction form left a really nasty taste in my mums mouth, all she could say to me was, "I kept on thinking of S.... " Now she wasn't thinking of my son because we wanted to go as well, I've lived outside of the UK for 30 years and am very happy where I am, it was just the general flavour of the questions that got her. I really don't know if its discrimination, perhaps its more towards just being practical and saving resources for those who have paid into them. Perhaps it's about having a healthy population though that school of thought does take us to even more nasty ones so enough said on that score. It's also worth remembering that once a child reaches a certain age he or she would have to be interviewed in their own right as part of the selection procedure. If emigrating is what you really want to do then I wish you all the best and I really do hope that things have moved on since my mum went down this road.

I think Hitchens also covered ODD in the Mail yesterday, is not new and it does exist. http://www.klis.com/chandler/pamphlet/oddc...dcdpamphlet.htm

I think you may find that your son having an ASD may very well work against you being allowed to emigrate. And from what I have heard over the years, services are pretty dire.

reuby2, I responded to clarkie saying, " she thinks it would better if her hubbie wasn't at home just now," she must have her reasons for that. This is not about turning against each other, it is perhaps a way for her to see if her sons situation would improve under different circumstances. And yes we do need each other, but at what cost? Sometimes things have to be completely taken apart before they can be rebuilt and fixed

If you feel the situation at home would be better without your husband being there then change the locks. Your son will only ever have one mother. I would have liked to add some hugs but I can't find the smilies, sorry.

Jings crivens and hep ma boab, that'll teach me to type in a hurry so let me make myself clearer 8>). I wasn't referring to any post other than the one by theresa and no, it didn't come across to me the way it was intended to. My comment 'all things considered though I doubt very much they will openly voice their support of it. Its a shame really.' is a general observation based on many years of seeing so called 'curbies' not coming forward, regardless of how curbie friendly a general forum is or likes to think it is , for fear of getting it in the neck or even worse being told they don't love their children. Sorry for the confusion. I'm off now to fry up a few mince pies.

Well curing or defeating autism is not something I'm interested in and never have been but there must be members of this forum who think its possible and would like to at least try. Their opinions are as valid as everyone elses and I suspect they may be glad Natasha came to the forum with her petition, all things considered though I doubt very much they will openly voice their support of it. Its a shame really.

Quite often and infestation of thread worms can cause unexplained vomiting well before other signs are obvious.

I think if any person has used, as part of their defence, the fact they have ASD then its only fair it's made public knowlege. We can't have it both ways.

I can remember the search for the yellow dummies as well but had forgotten about it till now. It was the first time I'd seen an group of people, virtual strangers in reality, on an internet sight swing into action and I was amazed. I really wish I could have seen the drama.

I popped into a womens site that I sometimes frequent and in general the mums, to NT children, thought it trivialised autism. Even the ones who have autistic childen were not entirely sure how they felt about it.

I can recall hearing on another list that Jacqui herself has said, " liberties were taken with the ending."

I remember my doctor telling me that things start to happen once the girl is about 45 kilos and regardless of age. I can vouch for the 'chicken fillets' things, my daughter has one breat that is a full cup size smaller than the other and having this fillet to pop in her bra has added a real spring to her step.

She uses dietry enzymes and buys them from Houstanni

My friend was able to take her daughter off the diet after introducing an enzyme to her supplements. I'll go and ask what it is then get back to you.

Thanks Brook, my 23 year old has just had his diagnosis, I suspect he also has CAPD.

Well I admire anyone who could even have a go at attempting such a paper, let alone make a fine job of it.

Thank you Daisy, I think I only managed it by accident the other day. Simon, I'm glad you understand what I am trying to say, I thought long and hard before posting. You make very valid points, points I had thought of myself, I still felt though that even allowing for shameful prefessionals etc the point could still be made. CeeCee , no level headed person would want to label or diagnose themself with any syndrome or illness if it's not actually the case but the world isn't full of level headed people. I hope this really long and boring post hasn't come across as being too long winded and that none of you have fallen asleep whilst reading it , its taken me ages to compose it given that I'm well aware it could be a very controversial point of view to have.

I can't work the quote button out today, sorry Tez, you replied [i accept that the word "many" is used allowing that some are, QUOTE] Yes, exactly. But tying in with what Liz has just said, I would take it even one step further and say there are people who are just desperte to have syndrome, any syndrome, because the perceive it to be the 'in thing' to have. I'll go and hide now

The latest issue of Autism Connect has an interesting article by a Professor Skuse, I think it suggests that some of us can be 'Extreme NT' I might be wrong though

Ceecee , I suspect and have done for the last 3 or 4 years that many of the people who diagnose themselves, whether they are a parent or not, aren't in actual fact on the spectrum.