ray

Star charts worked for us for years to handle loads of issues. If we perservered it literally never failed. We just needed to make sure the chart was heavy on the visuals which was a challenge given my complete lack of artistic skills.

When he was about 9 Alex was having some problems at school socialising, and was bullied badly - one little monster (who I'm sure is now a well adjusted and charming young adult) bent his fingers back so badly he had to go to hospital and his hand turned black and blue. Anyway, went to the school to try and sort things out and was told by his teacher that there was 'no such thing as aspergers, or autism' and that he was just badly behaved and bad parenting was to blame! ray

Thanks for all the welcomes and kind words. As it was halloween just watched 'The Grudge' - scary film. If Alex watched it he wouldn't sleep for a year! Ray

Just a quick hello. Joined yesterday - our son is Alex who is 17 years old, diagnosed with Aspergers when he was about 9. We live in Ringwood in Hants. Came across this website in a quiet 5 mins at work on Friday (work for a bank - yawn) and recognised many of the issues & experiences. Alex is in his second year at a local college, he's a wonderful lad with a great character and ever so sociable, although he doesn't really have any friends outside of college. He's not really very academic and he's doing a general prep for work type course. He had a summer job at Sainsbury's where he had to cope with a couple of girls who weren't very patient with him and made things quite difficult. I can share this episode with you another time if anybody interested because I think it highlighted the very innocent and trusting nature that some AS kids have which can lead to them being vulnerable to teasing and bullying and creates a conflict about advice I want to give Alex to just be himself, but at the same time to hold back on some of the detail so he doesn't come across as 'weird, and so easy prey for those with a nastier side to them. Anyway, hello, and speak soon. Ray