trekster

Could the TA do it during breaktime or before school instead? Might take some of the embarrassment away from your daughter.

Hello Personally i would work on what is causing him to "act out". He could be reacting to some sensory stimuli in the room that others cannot hear. Request that the school purchases "asperger syndrome practical strategies for the classroom" as this book describes in detail what can cause certain behaviours in asperger kids. When under extreme stress many autistics cannot think what they need to do they just use their "flight or fight" instincts. i have this problem myself with the way words come out (i would rather hit myself than another person unless they grabbed me) under extreme stress. What is extreme stress for an autistic is a lot lower than extreme for a neurotypical. Low frustration tolerance is part of the executive function range. Definitely DON'T use the c option its the equivalent to taking away something pleasurable because your kid has had an epileptic attack. As for the hugging that would depend on his stress levels at the time and whether he is able to cope with hugs. i know this sounds strange but certain types of hugs literally hurt me. i almost hit an airport security woman as she didn't accept that "use the want please" meant "no frisking please". i just about managed to stutter "don't touch me im autistic" and flap in a distressed manner before she understood. If she hadn't reacted by using the wand (and the person assisting me hadn't responded in a negative way to my vent after the event) it could have been a lot worse. i could have shut-down been labelled as uncooperative and not permitted to fly. All because i was so overloaded i was unable to show my "this person has Asperger syndrome" card (which would have prevented the misunderstanding possibly). What sort of in class support does your child receive? Could you offer to sit in on the class to see when he is doing these behaviours? Would moving him to a quieter area of the class room help? Can he read the blackboard? Have you asked him why he hits people? i had a star card during my penultimate year at primary school (i was still undiagnosed at the time). Kids knew how to wind me up and how gullible i was at the time. They told me they had eaten 6 portions of food so i attempted to "break their record" believing it to be true. i was unable to do this so i transformed into super girl in the playground and shouted at dinner ladies trying to convince them to change their minds. i hated the confusion of lunch and playtime and often sat in the corner with a coat over my head. Even my severe circulation disorder wasn't recognised at the time (leading to numb painful fingers and feeling punished for getting older by being made to wait longer for food). i was eventually dragged inside (literally) by 2 dinner ladies. i shook my fist at them saying "you wont get away with this!" i couldn't face looking at the teacher so i sat crossed legged on the mat facing the window. i was then told off for "turning my back on the teacher" as this was rude (wasn't my reason for turning my back on her) and i didn't have the words or ability to describe why i was behaving that way at the time. i forget what happened next due to my brain blocking out the memories of the rest of the day. My teacher then told me how disgusted she was with my "unreasonable" behaviour and went to tell my mum. i begged her not to tell my mum as i feared i could be beaten up again like i did when i hit someone at a birthday party in front of mum (she has apologised for this incident i might add). i pulled at her trying to stop her from telling mum but it was no use. i was then accused of "pushing the teacher" and all sorts of things under the sun. i lost 1 years worth of pocket money for this incident (also i have been apologised to for this punishment), that was the beginning of my (still current) depression. i was even surprised the next year when my teacher mentioned what a model student i was. i think the fact that her voice was softer compared to the previous year so i was able to listen without echoing in my ears. Despite being very verbal i was unable to explain to the teacher that i couldn't see the blackboard. My theory of mind meant i thought everyone else saw the same as me. i wish i could go back and change the torment of my later schooling years but i cant. i hope my story can help other parents and teachers understand that there is often a hidden communication to autistic behaviour. Alexis (who finds by avoiding benzoates she can understand people better without being tempted to hit them).

Strange how you mention this thread winds you up but quote Winston Churchill in your signature line at the same time? His poignant line of "we will never give up, never surrender" is sometimes the only thing that keeps me going. Some might say im famous in the autistic community and i happy to leave it at that. Seeing others cope with their autism gives me and many others hope that we can cope and be autistic at the same time. i dont understand the negativity surrounding having a disability. By coincidence i happen to be affected by autism like everyone else here. i didnt see anyone state or imply any different. That was the point of this thread. The original posted wanted to see that there are people out there who can live with their autism. i happen to be one of those autistics where some traditional methods of helping my autism impede on my other disabilities. Written information for example has to be ideally in size 18 text on sky blue paper. Also the information on the autism alert card mentions "avoid sarcasm, irony or metaphors" i prefer people to "use those ways in language if they can explain them to me in literal english. i want to learn all the sayings in the book. Also i would like to be able to discuss topics at great length. It causes problems on many lists im a member of, but due to my dyslexia and cognitive understanding is a disability necessity. i certainly am not under any false impressions of my aspergers. i have come through that stage 14 years later and i know my limits. That website includes links to autistic authors. i do that as well and im determined in part due to peoples actions like Churchill, this autistic has answered 8 of the £1 million questions correctly on "who wants to be a millionaire" (WWTBM) WITHOUT being able to read them! You could say i watch "WWTBM with my ears due to my dyslexia". i use a combination of being inspired by famous autistics which give me the drive to keep going. Depends what you do with the cards you have been dealt. i rarely see a famous autistic declaring that they are "autistic and proud" or something similar. In fact i think its the media and many other folk that arent related to them that mention their autism. No such thing as "normal". Before anyone asks i am struggling to negotiate daily life including a pain level of 8/10 24/7. In the past year ive had a grand total of 10 hours pain free. im used to it as a part of my fibromyalgia and im going to do something about it (ie going back to pain clinic and pushing for LDN treatment or something similar) asap. i decided what i wanted to do in life and went for it. Also i looked carefully at the obstacles in my way (eliminating my food addictions and adding in supplements for example helped). Without my experiences of university i would still be living with my gran, if i hadn't of given up my meds AMA i would have literally been sections in March 2005. They were turning my psychotic. i spend a large amount of my very limited income on my supplements. i am going through severe depression and insomnia at the moment but i know im going to beat it as the PTSD book says "PTSD sufferers are brave and can deal with many battles". My family was torn apart by my fathers nasty asperger attitudes. My mother is still being brainwashed by his deceit and lies 10 years after his death. Even i have problems working out what was true in what he said and what was bullying tactics. My gran and my brother have been my rocks through this. im the eldest of 3 kids in my family. My sister lives with her fella and a baby in a nearby town (shes had MH and OCD). My brother has just turned 20 and is trying to pass accountancy qualification. He doesn't approach people easily and i think hes ADD. Gran has failing physical health as does her sister (which i clash with severely due to her MSC and SID). My brother feels like a handyman as hes the only adult male in our family. All our family have had severe mental health problems (apart from the nephew) connected with mine, mums and dads (bullying in his case) autism. Domestic violence has occurred in 3 branches of our family. i dont wish to offend anyone else by these comments either. i hope we can help each other licklepaulie to deal with our autism the best we can. As Churchill would say "we will never give up, never surrender". Alexis

thanks asnweb i wasnt aware of that site and im going to look on it right now! Alexis

Autism Act 2009 has come out. Also the NAS "dont write me off campaign" is trying to explain needs of autistic adults.

i just emailed him as one of my fav people in history "Sir Winston Churchill" had asperger syndrome according to his "in the footsteps of churchill". His speech "we will never give up, never surrender" rings in my head. Alexis

Im not exactly famous but myself and Gran have written a book about Aspergers that has broken into India and USA. It took me 7 years to pass my A Levels and i had a breakdown in between, its likely to take another 7 to get up to BSc standard and i had another breakdown in 2005. Use this forum to help you accomplish things, for me getting a shower, remembering to eat or use the bathroom are accomplishments. Aspergers doesnt stop me getting where i want to go and it doesn't have to stop anyone else. Alexis

What about trying to access one of the National Autistic Societies Out of Schools Clubs? South West England or Central England runs them (your location isnt listed on here). http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp...185&a=16234 There are also autism resource centres http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1922 ...... and NAS branches http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=914 ....which can put you in touch with parent support groups so you can discuss with other parents about your sons needs. The NAS also has a parent to parent line (which my gran volunteered on for a few years) http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=617&a=3302 or ring them 0800 9 520 520 Alexis

Hello The constant questions are a) due to him not recognising you are watching the tv that this means you require quiet time and c) that if he doesn't ask you know he will forget. Could you encourage him to write questions on paper when you are looking at the tv? Then you agree to answer them at the end of the tv program. There are some books on adolescents and Asperger syndrome a book for your son could be "how to be yourself in a world thats different". Can you afford a tv package that means you can pause the tv if he interrupts? My sky + box is good for this provided there is enough spare memory on the machine. Alexis

i keep trying to tell my family that nagging and making a fuss will make it worse. This is especially true about showering.

Sounds to me like selective silence or social phobia. i know you don't mean for it to come out that way but very strong emotions mean i cannot remember what i've been told. What about her homework diary? Or writing a note with her to hand to the teacher?

Considering hes being treated like a "spoilt brat acting out" (instead of an autistic) at the school that doesnt surprise me. Sounds like a combination of sensitive hearing and a new routine of a different child in the class that is bothering him. i found the dinning room confusing and was so pleased when the years were separated out to eat at secondary school. Does he dislike the child in the class because their voice is high pitched? Certain tones of sound particularly high pitch tones can literally cause pain in some autistic/asperger kids. Also the effects of the constant anxieties at the school of your brother would make that issue worse for him. He is severely depressed by the sound of things. In me if im really angry a lot of the time and snappy (like i am at present) it actually means im very depressed. Anger can actually be depression in autistic kids. Does he have severe sleep problems? Melatonin trials could help him with this and then he could calm down due to this problem. The school staff members are failing your brother. Personally i would ring the SENCO responsible for the school now and explain hes being excluded due to his autistic behaviour. What does the autism helpline or the regional officer for your area of the NAS say? Every child is supposed to matter according to the government campaign. i wish you well with helping your brother. i was almost excluded from secondary school due to my autistic behaviour. i didnt have a diagnosis at the time. Alexis

Appears homophobic to me.

Hi Lynne i cant get those appointments because im autistic and its not treated in this area. Alexis

Mel Could you possibly invest in some sort of personal attack alarm? Then teach him how and when to use it. My naivety caused me to be attacked. Alexis

Hello Cat IME the only real test is the diet itself. Why pay money for a test that could go wrong when you can just try it anyway? i had to attempt the diet twice, 1st i went gf/cf the 2nd time i went msg/cf/gf/benzoatef/aspartamef. Both attempts were with supplements and i was more successful the 2nd time round. im a mod on a yahoo recipe list (mostly american) and that list kept me going until the aia cookbook arrived. There are a few books on the subject one aimed at autistics attempting the diet another aimed at parents and another very techie book aimed at anyone who wishes to treat autism. There are also many recipe books. Im just really passionate about this, so passionate in fact that my final literature review was on the subject of "diet and autism: is there a link?" Alexis

Any chance you could post some of those recipes on here? The household items i mean.

Any chance you could post some of those recipes on here? The household items i mean.

Sorry to go at a tangent but when i went to college i had no problems with my TA supporting other students if i was ok with my work.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum fogz. http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp...922&a=17769 Ladbroke Grove Autism Centre 73C St Charles Square London W10 6EJ Tel: 020 8962 3010 Fax: 020 8962 3011 Email: lgautismcentre@nas.org.uk At Ladbroke Grove Autism Centre we support people of all ages on the autism spectrum to help them achieve their full potential. Our centre offers a safe and supportive environment in which children, young people and adults can meet other people, try new activities, explore interests and develop their confidence and independence. We also offer support and training to families, carers and professionals. Our facilities include: * an information technology lounge, incorporating specialist software * a sensory and relaxation room * an activity and games room * a large training and drama room * an art and craft area * a dining room and teaching kitchen * a communal garden. Our staff All our staff are trained to a high standard in specialist autism-specific care and support. We are dedicated to helping people achieve their full potential by developing independence and confidence. We deliver sessions on an individual basis or in small groups and assign individuals with their own support worker to help them develop a person-centred plan. How to access our services Anyone who has a diagnosis on the autism spectrum or who is in the process of obtaining one can apply to use our services. The centre takes self-referrals and referrals made by professionals, families and carers, from any London borough. Please contact us for more information about any of our support projects or training programmes, or to apply to use our services.

That was an insensitive for them to say! i went to a child psych age 16 to get diagnosed. i was given a leaflet on Asperger syndrome and sent on my way. Congratulations on your asperger syndrome diagnosis. Would you like to meet other autistics in RL? http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2176&a=7719 (NAS adult autism social groups in Scotland) There are social groups in the following areas: * Glasgow under-30's (2 Groups) * Glasgow over-30's * Clydebank/West Dunbartonshire * Edinburgh * Dundee * Inverness For further information about social groups in Scotland please contact: Social Programmes Manager (Scotland) The National Autistic Society Scotland 1st Floor Central Chambers 109 Hope Street Glasgow G2 6LL Tel: 0141 221 8090 Email: scotlandsocialgroups@nas.org.uk

Im thinking dyslexia or some eye problem here.

i hope they let me on. i was under 30 when i accepted to go on the program. But they didn't have the money to run it at the time.

Hello Well done to your kid, i remember when i had an autistic meltdown a star chart was suggested to prevent the issue from reoccurring again. Of course it was all my fault and i was being naughty at the time (due to no diagnosis excuse the sarcasm). If only i had been given access to that sort of system at school, it would have encouraged social behaviour earlier on. Don't get me wrong i am so pleased systems like this are in place for the next generation of autistics (14 years post diagnosis). Thats one cute, proud kid for good reasons. Alexis