Mauneen

Hi! How Are You! I am a 25 year old female with Aspergers Syndrome from Ireland and I can relate to your son's situation. To begin the journey to developing the skills for socialisation, Your son should see a training facilitator for AS on a one to one basis where he will learn personal development, confidence building skills and relationship skills. I have been doing this myself for the past year and now I hardly know myself. A councillor may be a good idea too if he has had very seriuos problems involving bullying or abuse. I have been seeing one myself for all the problems I had suffered and it has helped me tremendously to talk to someone I could trust, to get every bad situation I was in, off my chest. Another brilliant idea would be to look up different social groups or networks for people with AS so that he can join one on a regular basis. Here he would have no problem being understood and he would also have something huge in common with them - the AS. I have been attending a social group for people with Asperger's myself on sundays and I have been learning something new every day as well as meeting heaps of people Good Luck with your son and may things look up for him soon Kind Regards Mary

Hi! How are you? I am also from Ireland and I have Asperger's syndrome. I was sorry to hear that one of your boys was diagnosed with autism. I was also sorry to hear that you were finding it hard. What type of Autism does your son have? It is extremely tough at first especially for a parent of a child with autism and it can take time to come to terms with. I had a very lonely time myself growing up in my small village as my condition was unknown. My life changed completely when I went to the Dublin Business School of Arts for my degree and Higher Diploma. Since I was diagnosed, socially I came on a treat with the aid of a social group and a training facilitator. Whatever type of autism your son has, a training facilitator in the area is highly recommendable as she will be able to work with him on a one to one basis. Am looking forward to hearing from you soon? Mary

Hiya Clare How are you? I really hope that my achievements will bring major confidence to everyone on the forum. It comes to show that People with a condition like Asperger's are worth dozens of the people who abuse them and they come out with the last laugh over them in the end. Hope to hear a bit about yourself and your son! Talk to u soon and feel free to ask me for advice on anything regardind AS! Kind Regards Mary

Hi Kathryn How are you? Am dead excited about getting to know everyone on the forum! I really hope to help out alot here and give many of the people heaps of encouragement with my achievements. I also hope that my own achievements will spur you and everyone else on in a very light and positive way. I really hope to hear from you soon. Kind Regards Mary

Hiya Nellie Am dead excited about making new friends on the forum. The forum itself will be an excellent help to me. Hope to hear from you again soon. Kind Regards Mary

Hi! How are you? Would love to Hear all about your experience with AS and a bit about yourself Am looking forward to hearing from you soon Kind regards Mary

Hi Nicky! How are you? Am looking forward to getting to know heaps of people on this forum. How are your boys doing especially the boy with HFA? Hope you are keeping well! Kind Regards Mary

Hi Again! I really hope your son will soon get the support He needs for his AS if he is diagnosed with it from the assessment. It will not be easy to start off with but it can get easier as it has done for me once he gets settled with the right support. If your son experiences any trouble with his condition you can feel free to ask me on anything regarding the syndrome and I can try to be of help to both you and your little lad with my own experience Kind Regards Mary

Hi Diane You are more than welcome! Feel free to ask me on anything regarding the syndrome if you feel you are having difficulties. I have often found that my Asperger's has been a blessing giving me the intelligence and the personality that I have. I would love to hear abit about you regards Mary

Hello again! I sure will have alot to offer. How are you keeping? Have you been up to anything interesting? I have had an interesting weekend myself - I attended the support group for Aspergers in Dublin myself and they are totally mad into Dr Who. One of them was down in the dumps so I tried to cheer him up saying I would never let him down. I found that one of them is into art like me. Did you ever do art yourself? Good to hear from ya Mary

Hiya! My name is Mary and I'm 25 years old. Like your son I have Asperger's Syndrome and I found school a major strugglle socially. Your son will experience problems at school as some of the other kids don't know the difference there. I was bullied badly at school myself and I can understand the position your son is in. Since I was diagnosed during my postgraduate year in college, I have been seeing a training facilitator who has been providing me with social skillls, personal development, and other important skills. I would firmly recommend a training facilitator for your son as she would be able to point out to him and reach out to him as well as helping him to cope like mine has done with me. I have been in with a service in dublin called the Adult asperger's/autism service in Sheaf House. I'm sure if you contact your doctor and enquire about a service like this for children your son's age you might get plenty of them which would help. Also there are excellent support groups out there for people with asperger's and great guides for parents - On the internet and there is a particular book on the condition by Tony Attwood which I have been reading myself. From my experience growing up with Asperger's, Don't be too tough on your son if he plays up or misbehaves as sometimes he mightn't be aware of his behaviour like I wasn't or he wouldn't be deliberate Best of Luck with your son Mary

Hi Suz My name is Mary and I am 25 years old. I am Irish and I have Asperger's myself. I read that you may have it too. I actually spotted the condition in myself during my school years when I spotted the same symptoms I was displaying in another girl with the condition in a woman's magazine. I was finally diagnosed in 2007 and I have been doing splendidly. If you think you have Asperger's like me you should go to the doctor, tell him/her your symptoms, and get a definite diagnosis. I did just that and it has been the biggest turning point of my life ever since Good Luck Mary ( Mauneen)

My name is Mary and I am a 25 year old fundraising administrator with mild Asperger's Syndrome from Dublin, Ireland. Before I was diagnosed I suffered an awful lot with naming calling, bullying and verbal abuse. I was abused by a man who was supposed to help me and others in the social area. When I was smaller people were sceptical about my future, however a teacher in primary school noticed my potential and called my parents. Since then I have come on in leaps and bounds especially having qualified with a degree in Arts and a Higher Diploma in Business studies. I can relate to people out there with Asperger's and give them good advice where the condition is concerned