tinminer

I have heard Chris Rea on a previous interview say that he thought he had autistic traits, and that this helped his creative process. He went on to say he thought ALL people that we creative (artisits, writers etc) had a little 'piece of autism' inside them. As someone with AS, I don't find those comments offensive, and it may have been Judy's way of introducing the subject perhaps?

We don't have CAMHS here in Cornwall either.

I am not so sure. I can easily give a talk to 1,000 people while on stage (I know, 'cos I've done it!). I wasn't scared at all, as I had re-hearsed what I was going to say. I think that musicians and actors who have AS become totally immersed in the part or performance that the nerves are unaffected. However, put us in a room with complete strangers, and ask us to make 'small-talk'.... That truly is the stuff of nightmares! This is where the whole 'celebrity' thing is a pile of rubbish. If people are famous for doing something (writing/singing/acting/performing etc), then that's fine. But, being famous just for being famous, well you need a huge EGO to do that, and people with AS don't have one of those!

I think you got the wrong idea with my post. By myself saying people 'who have AS, or used to have AS' I was refering to people now alive, and people that are now dead. Of course, you are born with AS - it never goes away - it is an intrinsic part of who you are. Regarding Gary Numan and musical talent, check out his early stuff with Tubeway Army, and some of his later output. Although he may not have the best vocals going, his musical writing (i.e. sequences of notes) is totally unique in style, and he definately has talent. I am not a big fan, but he has made a significant contribution to electronic music.

While I was waiting for my diagnosis for AS, which I got last month, I did some research on the net. There are LOADS of celebs who have AS, or probably have had it. In the past, your looking at both Einstein and Newton, the chemist Cavendish, the composers Bella Bartok and Beethoven, the author Jane Austen and the musician Nick Drake. Present day: Bill Gates we all know about, but also the TV presenter and ex-Monty Python Michael Palin, the director Woody Allen the actors Keanu Reeves and Dan Ackroyd (Blues Brothers) the musician Michael Hefgot, amongst many, many others, including the aforementioned Gary Numan. So, I am in good company! PS Don't know about Harry Hill, but would not at all be surprised.

Hi, I can totally agree with that Lauren. I live in Cornwall, and services for anyone with an IQ higher than 70 (adults & children) is non-existent. the response of the mental health team (who I have been under for the past 6 years for anxiety & severe depression) when I got my dx of AS for myself last month was to strike me out of their services completely! I am currently complaining to the Healthcare Commission about this.

Thanks: waccoe, phasmid, Shona, Elanor & ceecee - some brilliant posts there, which have got me thinking about it from different angles. I really appreciate your input. Elanor, to answer you specific point, my parents re-action to my son's dx was very downbeat. They knew 'something' was wrong, i.e. felt he was different to 'normal' (NT?) children. However, and here is the crucial point, I am an only child, but both my parents come from large families, so they have had more dealings with other children. Their frame of reference was much bigger than mine, so picked up on my son's nuances far more easily than I ever did. Having said all that though, when I explained to them what AS was (my son also has a learning disability and epilepsy), they were very much like, 'well there are far worse things to have'. I'm not totally sure they have fully grasped what the concept of AS truly is, but they have some idea of the difficulties he faces. I will give it much more thought, as there are no easy answers, and I want to make sure I make the right decision. Once again, thanks to you all. PS. Sorry I can't use the emoticons, as I get confused by their meanings, and will end up selecting the wrong one!

Hi, I was diagnosed with having AS just one month ago. So far, apart from the medical people, the only people I have told are my wife (who also may have AS) and my line manager (I was off sick recently with depression & anxiety - the cumlination of which resulted in me getting a Dx). I have NOT told my parents. I am 41 years of age, they are in their 60s. I did have problems at school, especially socially > my mum's solution was to force me into the scouts - I lasted one week - I ran home screaming! I realise there is a sigificant 'generation gap', though they do know about AS, as they knew when my son was diagnosed 7 years ago (he's 14 now). My relationship with my parents is rocky - ever since I married my wife 15 years ago. My wife may also have AS, but my parents just thought she was 'odd'. and effectively gave me an ultimatum that if I married her, they would not speak to me. They didn't - for over 5 years. Reasons for not telling them: 1. They won't understand 2. They might think I have AS is their fault (it isn't of course - it is part of who I am) 3. They might think I am getting at them 4. It could upset our relationship more. Reasons for telling them: 1. They might understand me and my wife better, plus why I was/am like I am. 2. Time is running out - they won't be around forever 3. They might understand my son and my wife more 4. Think it is 'right' that they should know. Ultimatley, of course, it is my decision, but I would appreciate your views/comments so I can come to a fully formed decision, and perhaps look at viewpoints I have not considered. PS - I have no reason to believe either of my parents have AS.

I love cheese & tomato snadwiches, and rarely have sandwiches with any other filling . Yes, I have AS. I'm am also vegetarian, and like simple food. I can't see the 'fuss' about cookng,and don't 'get' the foodie culture at all. Interestingly, my son, who also has AS, is also a vegetarian, though this is nothing to do with me. He saw a programme on TV about factory farming, and made his own mind up. He has't eaten meat for over 3 years now. By contrast, my wife (who probably has AS, but undiagnosed) is an avid meat - eater, and likes fancy food!

I am an adult with AS - hate being touched! It kinda freaks me out, though I have learnt not to shout or scream like I used to. Probably best, as I work with the Great British Public (retail manager) My son, who also has AS, doesn't seem to mind as much. I also need my personal space, but have learnt all the social rules (I know they come by intuition to you NT guys & gals - us Aspies have to learn 'em!).

There are over 1,000 motorists still stuck on the A30 on Bodmin Moor (between where I live in Redruth, Cornwall & Exeter, Devon). This must be a nightmare for them. - serious too, some have been stuck there since 10am this morning. It normally takes me half-an-hour to get home - took me three! (only 10 miles). Has taken others over 8 hours to get home, or not at all. Chaos on all the other major roads in Cornwall: A38, A39 (Atlantic Highway up to Bude/Barnstaple). A388, A384. We don't normally see snow like this in Cornwall - last time was 1983 that I remember, but I don't remember the roads being quite that bad then.

Christmas - Arrrgh!!!! Nightmare for me, and my family - we all have AS, so dislike changes to routine. This is compounded by the fact I am a retail manager, and Christmas is always a manic time. Why can't we have little celebrations every week, spread througout the year? Make every week go better, and no nasty credit card bills in January! Also make my job MUCH easier

From my own experience, it is always best to get professional input on the DLA claim (psychologist, psychiatrist, educationl medical officer etc), as well as your own words. It shouldn't be that way - I mean the forms are bad enough aren't they! As everyone has said, find out their reasons for turning your son down, and appeal against that. Don't give up!

The point is, faced with that sum in the REAL world, you would not know if the person who wrote it was using BIDMAS or not. It could be a VERY costly accounting error - dimensions to a house extension, interest calculation, mortgage payments, etc etc. I thought that school should prepare you for the real world, and not just more academia.

Looking at this from a blokey point of view, as you gals all have seperate WCs (as opposed to urinals), why would any other women object to your son being in the ladies loos (as long as he is accompanied by you, of course). Surely people have got better things to moan about? Reminds me of the lady breastfeeding in public story, where the Police sent a squad car around. Slightly different topic, I know, but there really are far more important things to worry about in this life.... From a parent point of view, I can fully understand your concerns too...Some blokes loos can be very dodgy, especially after dark , so you have every right to protect your son.

Surely, it is just sheer laziness to miss the brackets out - BIDMAS was obviously designed by someone who does NOT have Asperger Syndrome! Adding the brackets gives total clarity, and avoids any confusion. Why don't non-autistic people say what they mean! PS, I'm 41, but only found out today that when people say on the 'phone after they have rung you, ''I'll let you go now....'', it means that THEY want to finish the conversation. And I thought they were being polite, as they had interrupted me! People are strange!

Myself (aged 41), my wife (aged 35) and my son (aged 14) all have Asperger Syndrome. I was only diagnosed a couple of months ago, my son was diagnosed when he was 7, and my wife is self-diagnosed.

I didn't see it, but from the comments made, my main criticism would be it is showing the great British General Public ASD typical autism as portrayed in-the-media stereotypes: 1. That all people with AS are male (I have AS, so does my wife). 2. That all people with AS are savants, and excel at maths, science or computing (neither I nor my wife excel at any of these). 3. That any person's dislikes with something will ALWAYS be met with an EXTREME reaction - e.g. if someone touches me, I just feel 'I don't like that', but on TV the character has to SCREAM or go into a fit. I know some people with AS WILL react like that, but I would not say it is the norm. 4. That AS or autism is a MAJOR issue for both the parent/carer and the person who has it - two mis-conceptions there. Firstly, both myself and pretty much all other AS people I have spoken to would NOT want to be NT (neuro-typical) - autism is part of US! Secondly, other things happen in families with autism/AS - it is NOT the whole thing around which everyone else revolves. one day, things will be shown as they really are!

Quote: "Today society demands flexibility, multi-tasking, co-operative skills and things that Autistics are generally regarded as not being very good at. There has always been a large number of Autistics, it's just that because the enviroment is becoming increasingly inappropriate, the problems are being magnified where as before an Autistic could find their place and stay there." Oh boy, as someone with AS, can I just relate to that! If I could just pick grapes in a field, or bake bread, instead of having to do a hundred different things in an hour....... ....not going to happen though. Still, I can always daydream of being a recluse. Ah!....heaven!

Inclusionist educational policies were never designed by anyone with AS/autism. It DOES NOT work! Rant over...... Glad to see you got some worthy media coverage to highlight this Lauren!

This is what made me think about the evolution angle. Why is autism more prevalent in silicon valley, California? Why is autism more prevalent in children whose parents are in ABC1 income/social status/education brackets? Why is there no 'cure' or ' apparent cause'? Why is it increasing? We know so little at present, but by sharing the knowledge we do know helps us to understand. I don't buy the tobacco angle at all - none of my parents or grand-parents nor any of my wife's direct relatives smoke. I'm not sure at all about a direct environmental link, but there may be an indirect one.

AS someone with AS (+ son as well), might I add my own contorversial theory. My own belief is that autism is part of evolution. Our brains are evolving, so that the human race can go on to the next level. Obviously, we are in the very early stages, and it is diverging in several ways. HOWEVER, having a narrow field of interest and not being distracted by inconsequentials(Social life, clothes, celebs, gossip, all the rubbish - if you have AS you'll know what I mean )means you have more time to discover the next theory of relativity, the next insightful composition/painting/novel, cure for cancer, etc) I told you it is ONLY a theory, and has absolutely no scientific proof whatsoever, but it is my thought........ I don't think there ever will be a 'cure' for AS/autism, simply because it is NOT a disease - it is an integral part of a person, just like thay may have blue eyes, long legs. It cannot be changed. It just IS.

Ah! That's why I've not heard of it. No such thing exists in this area. If your IQ is less than 70, you go under the Learning Disabilities Directorate, if over 70 then (if child/adolescent) the Child & Family support unit (part of Sociall Services). If not child/adolescent, you are shown the door! (I just have been - I was seeing a psychiatrist for my depression(Adult Mental Health Trust), now I have a diagnosis of AS, I have been 'switched out' of their services, as they don't cater for autistic adults) This was one of the things which caused us not to get help for our son. He was diagnosed with an IQ of 70, and was passed from one NHS Trust to the other!

Getting a diagnosis is always a tricky.... I have two experiences on this one....getting a diagnosis for my son (about 7 years ago) and getting a diagnosis for myself (Only just been diagnosed). Firstly, my son's primary school reported back to me that he was behaving 'oddly'. They called in a Educational Psychologist, who refered him to...no-one! There was no-one in our geographical area (west Cornwall) who could diagnose, as the previous consultant had retired, and the NHS Trust could not find a replacement). In stepped my employer, who paid for him to be seen privately in Plymouth (about 70 miles away). He got a diagnosis straight away. Since then have spoken to other parents in our area who are still waiting. The NHS postcode lottery is a very real problem... Move on to 2005. After I had another bout of severe anxiety and depression, I happened to be on a self-help forum for depression,and there was a link to Simon Baron-Cohen's website with a self questionnaire for autism/AS in adults - I score 44 out of 50, and told my GP, who tried to refer me to a consultant in Exeter (about 110 miles away). the reply came back, that the consultant does not see out-of-county patients! So, in steps the Occ Health Dept of my employer (different employer), who pays the consultant privately. Et volia! Now have been diagnosed with AS at the age of 41... So, to sum up, you have to perservere, and see what your employer can do (some schemes cover children too). Otherwise you may have to dig deep yourself - my consultant charged my company's insurer �300. The National Autistic Society charge double that. BTW, what is CAMHS? Seen this on several threads, and not come across it before?

Well, I've just been diagnosed with AS, and still getting used to all the terminology. Neurotypicals (NTs) - who comes up with all the jargon? Can be very confusing! Having AS is bad enough, without the added treacle of 'jargonesse' on top. My son also has AS (diagnosed a few years ago), and at the time needed a dictionary when we met with any medical professional. Autism vs Aspergers. My opinion? It is a total spectrum, and I am not convinced that Kanner type is at one end and Asperger is on the other. After all, conditions like OCD and Dyslexia are also part of the ASD (depending on which specialist you speak to). I would put Asperger somewhere in the middle (or at the top, if you want to continue with the rainbow analogy). Severe Kanner would be where the rainbow hits the land, and the less full on autistic conditions (OCD) would be at the other point where the rainbow hits the land. I don't see anything 'mild' about AS. Indeed, you can have mild autism, but not have AS - there is a seperate set of criteria. In addition, AS individuals usually (but not always) have high IQs. Classic autists usually (but by no means always) have a learning disability or other moribund conditions (e.g epilepsy or ADHD). That's the way I see it - for now anyway, until another specialist changes the skew of the rainbow!