matzoball

Damn - I'll have to tell them off for leaving their posts! It was my manager and managing director that were exhibiting - really lovely people(yes I am biased hehe)!

The reason I went in and edited my post - was because I acted rashly and out of order. I literally posted, then immediately went back in and edited it because i was reacting out of anger and i did not want to take that out on you. It was in no way meant as manipulative. It wasn't meant to paint you in any kind of bad light. As for expecting and anticipating - I did not say that. I said you have a fantastic sense of humour and admire your take on life - you are putting words in my mouth. I may have taken that literally but I do that. You have jumped to conclusions without even asking me why I changed the posts - that's judgemental at best. I admit when I am wrong - I have done that twice in this thread - conceeding your very point - but you have taken that as me being conceited and manipulative. You always have a problem with what I post on here - I accept and invite differing opinions, that's the point of a forum. There are ways and means of approaching someone when you feel what they say is wrong or have a different viewpoint to offer - I only have confrontations on this forum with you. If I really was this person that you think I am, then I would be having problems with everybody on here. I work with 8 other people on the autistic spectrum - and I am on the spectrum myself - I deal with confrontations between them everyday and try to facilitate open and friendly communication which isn't easy - it frustrates me that I can't communicate in an open and friendly manner with you. That I will admit is a conceit that I have that I like to get on with everyone.

i actually was okay with what you said baddad - but when you wrote '(the freaking awesome BD') - how could i not take that as anything but a jab? that's when you got my back up. i do hide your posts, but when it got pointed out to me that you are personally addressing something i have posted - i'll admit my curiousity got the better of me. more fool me i guess. and then to say something as hurtful as you just have about me being conceited enough as to think the world and the forum revolves around me? how could i not take that personally? do you know what the really sad thing about this is? i actually like you. i think you have a fantastic sense of humour and i admire your take on life. when i read back over what i said - yes it was a stupid thing to say, and i don't actually feel like that(we are all jock tamsons weans and all that) - but not everything i type on here is going to be perfect or well thought out. i'm only human.

Anyone visit the Specialisterne Scotland stand?

Baddad - while I take on board what you are saying - and in hindsight yes it was a bit of a misguided answer. However making jabs at me - not appreciated. I have asked you in the past to not address me in anyway whatsoever. That's not changed.

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I do mystery shopping for attitude is everything for stuff just like this! First - call the venue to see if they do the 2 for 1 scheme - means you only have to pay for 1 ticket. Then - ask to be seated in the disabled area - big venues tend to have them and ask to be seated. Al you need is to prove the disability which means either a dla award letter or dx letter. Venues tend to be very helpful with this kind of thing Also may be worth taking earplugs - I wear ones that are noise reduction ones which means i still hear the music but it cuts out the other stuff and makes the noise levels more manageable hope this helps!

I always dig out some of my teenage book collection(short books so can read a few hehe)- the tripods trilogy, my nicolas fisk collection(trillions, grinny, starstormers), and z for zachariah!

So sorry to hear that Bid, I hope everything goes well with the surgery and she makes a speedy recovery xxx

The biggest favour you could do for yourself right now is accepting yourself for who you are. Once you accept and start to like yourself then everything else will follow. Work on accepting your limitations and expanding on the things you can do. Confidence comes from knowing who you are, knowing your own faults as you see them and carrying on regardless and without apology. AS is not sufferable like crabs - it's something that while difficult to deal with at times - is more liberating than you realise. We are not like other people thank god - we are loyal friends, we are hard workers, we are loving family members and spouses. Speak to people on here - ask them about their lives and I am certain you will find out that it doesn't need to be this pariah producing condition that you think it is. It can be pretty freaking aweosome.

Again, am going to disregard everything but the OP - so as not to take sides or the like. Speaking as a (now grown up - so to speak) child with a step mum, and an aunt to an autistic nephew, and as someone with Aspergers - your priorities, while understandable are a bit mis-placed. It's hard to stay objective when there are so many people and emotions involved - but the fact remains that for all of you, the priority has to be the child in question. Fighting to overturn a DX is something you may regret in time. If he is masking his behaviour, or flourishing under a more structured environment when spending time with you, as he gets older and finds his AS more difficult to manage - you will no longer have the support in place to help you and the family because you had the DX overturned and will have to fight to get diagnosed again. None of us here on the forum can really comment with full confidence because we aren't privy to what you all experience - so there is every possibility that he may be neurotypical with some other type of need. However - none of you will really know until there is a stable home environment for him. Once there is a baseline for his behaviour founded by a stable day to day routine - it will be a lot easier for you and healthcare professionals to truly discern if he is on the spectrum or not. If his home life is chaotic and unpredictable - then it is not so unfounded to surmise that his behaviour will reflect this. I can understand how frustrated you must be with the situation - and with his mother. But coming on a forum and demonizing her and making insensitive remarks about someone with asd being 'odd' is not the way to go. Be honest, yes - but you need to try and remain impartial and always keep your step son as the focus. And be supportive of him regardless. That's really what he needs from you.

If you meet the criteria for Legal Aid, then there is certainly no reason you can't apply for it. Most solicitors subscribe to it - so it's worth a try at least! When I tried to sue my old employers, the solicitor that I took the case to also said pretty much the same thing - I think sometimes they don't want to get caught up in something that seems a bit difficult. http://legalaidcalculator.justice.gov.uk/calculators/eligiCalc;jsessionid=8A08AD2B3CD07163413E0A1F0A756A44?execution=e1s1 this will tell you if you can get it or not! hope this helps!

What level of dla do you get? You need at least lower rate mobility and middle rate care to immediately qualify for the national entitlement card. If you only get the lower rate mobilty(like me) you may have to register as having a learning disability/mental illness and get the form signed off by the person who gave you your diagnosis. Your local social work department are legally obligated to give you these forms if you ask for them. If they need proof you are registered disabled - give them a copy of your award letter. If you don't have a copy - contact the department of work and pensions, and they will be able to send you out a copy. Once all this is signed off - you will get your card in 4-6 weeks at the latest Hope this is helpful! jxxx

Hi there - haven't read the other posts but I am going to jump in here. They have broken the law. This means they are culpable under it. Denying your son a position because of where he was educated and by extension his disability clearly shows they were not willing to make any sort of reasonable adjustment, or even give him a chance. Connections should have not even informed them he was from a 'special school' this is breaching your sons privacy. You need to get times and dates(when connections informed this place where your son was educated, when the offer was recinded, when the person gave the reasons etc). Then approach a lawyer - if you can't afford a lawyer legal aid should be made available to you (i am not saying you can't afford it - just covering all bases!!). You definitely have a clear case here and they shouldn't get away with it - shame on them!!

Thanks

You sound brilliant! A great ambassador for Autism

Holy Cr#p!! He is one of my favourite actors!! He's featured right now in C4's 'films that stand the test of time' adverts - wow that is so cool!!

I got it!!! It's been 6 months of hard slog (at times) but I got the job! I can't thank all of you enough as you all supported me through this

I would say I am on friendly terms with everyone, I've been out for drinks with one person and enjoy sitting with the people at my desk - but I wouldn't say I've made friends per se - I think I am just going to redouble my efforts and do just that! Kill them with kindness

Just a question, but when socialising or rather, interacting with other people on the spectrum - has anyone ever felt less valid as someone with an ASD because their coping skills are a lot more developed? I still love being on the course, but increasingly feel incredibly stupid in comparison to others there. That's a personal insecurity I know, but it's becoming more and more obvious in the way I am regarded by some trainees - that because they deem me less intelligent and more sociable - that I am less valid as a person because they don't feel I am on their level, or as 'aspie' as them so again am seen as some sort of leper. Doesn't the fact that I have a diagnosis AND that I have picked up software testing and basic programming in a matter of months mean I am as intelligent and as valid as they are?

I really think you should show these fb posts to the girls parents - I am sure they would be absolutely appalled(spelling?) at their childrens behaviour!

Fantastic - kick some butt!!

Mazel Tov!

Two people from our training class are presenting at Autscape in August, so if you are going - feel free to come and talk to them!

Thanks guys