Tally

Hi Sophie, and welcome to the forum. I split your post off to give you your own topic so that you won't go unnoticed I am 30 now, and I was only diagnosed with AS about 5 years ago. So I didn't know I had it when I was in school, but I certainly had a lot of difficulties getting on with people, and have done in adult life as well. I would say that it does get better because you learn new social skills, and once you start work you are more likely to be surrounded by people you have something in common with, whereas at school you are forced to mix with people simply because they are the same age as you. I've found the workplace to be (mostly) a much nicer environment. I think if ever you do decide to tell your friends about your AS, you should think carefully about how you tell them. They might not know much about it, and it's your opportunity to get across how it is for you, rather than let them go off and research it themselves and maybe come across all the stereotypes that don't apply to you. If they are genuine friends, they will know you and like you as you are, and knowing about your diagnosis shouldn't change that - it might explain some of your differences to them and help them be more understanding when you find things hard. I see you're interested in pets. I especially like cats and I have a very naughty cat. What pets do you have?

I'm very pleased to tell you that I AM HOME!!! We left San Luis Obispo airport at 2pm yesterday for a 2 hour flight to Phoenix. The plane was a little delayed which meant we cut it a bit fine at Phoenix, and didn't really know where to go when we got there. In the end we walked into British Airways first class lounge and a man there checked us in and told us where to go and we got there with 10 minutes to spare. Unfortunately this plane was also a little delayed, but we left there at about 4.30pm yesterday, flew for 10 hours, and because of the time difference, arrived at Heathrow at 2.30 this afternoon, having had very little sleep. We were keen to get home so the delays were very frustrating, but all in all we got off the plane only one hour later than expected and our luggage was first off so we got out of the airport really quickly. My cat Mitzi is totally disinterested in my return, and has left me the generous gift of dried mud in my bed, which I am going to have to change before I can get into it! Friends and family have been really supportive of me and my dad while we were in America, and have taken very good care of my mum while she was home on her own. Some people have been very upset that the sentence is so low, considering the maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years. But the judge has strict guidelines and 10 years would be for people who were more drunk, killed more than one person, or had previous convictions for drunk-driving. Because of the circumstances of this particular case, 4 years really was the maximum it ever could have been, so we are satisfied that they have used the full extent of the law. The District Attorney told us afterward that he feared it would be only one year or even that he would be released on probation, and he thinks it was our statements that helped persuade the judge to be so tough. Even the lawyer didn't really make much of a case against going to prison after our statements. So I do think it was a good thing that we did this as we may have influenced the sentence.

Phone. We were allowed to wait in a room and a journalist asked to speak to us and we agreed. And then it was over and we realised we were ravenous so we went and got some lunch!

Oops, hit the wrong button on my phone and I have no edit button on the

The worst bit was beforehand. The court begins at 8.30 but the judge deals with people who have been arrested overnight first. I didn't understand it to be honest. There were still several other prisoners in the court while the sentencing was taking place. Anyway, we had to wait our turn and they couldn't tell us precisely when that would come, though they did do their best to keep us informed. Then because I had not read my dad's statement, I thought it might be too emotional to hear it immediately before giving my own, so I was waiting outside while he read his and I kept getting waves of panic. But when eventually I went in to the court I just sat in the seat, looked at the judge, and tried to forget there was anyone else but him in the room. I didn't feel at all nervous while I was reading, only beforehand. Then I sat in the gallery with my dad while the District Attorney argued for a long sentence and Ceja's lawyer argued for probation. They were points of law that I did not understand, and then the judge went on at length before telling us his decision. Then we were allowed to wa

Hi Jeni, and welcome. We are a UK-based forum here, so we won't be able to advise you much on how to access formal support for your son, but obviously we can still make suggestions and be a listening ear for you. I hope you will like it here. We're all a bit nutty, but don't worry, you soon will be too

I managed to get through my statement this morning. I think I got my point across. The judge sentenced him to 4 years in prison and he will have to serve 85% of that, he has already served 8 months since he was first arrested. This is about what we expected and hoped for. He expresses deep regret and says he wants to do charity work like David did, and does seem genuine, though you can never be sure. It was such a wierd situation. I'm really relieved it is all over now. I think it's another massive hurdle dealt with. I do feel a little lighter now. Though it was never our intention to have him suffer, we would have been very upset by a low sentence so it's a relief this hasn't happened as well as that it's over. We have a free day tomorrow and then we head home on Friday, arriving Saturday lunchtime, when I will get into my own bed with my cat and have a massive great big sleep!

Today I arrived in San Luis Obispo to attend the sentencing tomorrow, of the drunk driver who killed my brother. My dad and I are reading victim impact statements in the court. I'm pretty nervous about it. I've not felt well the whole time we've been away so I hope I'm going to be able to get through the whole thing tomorrow. We have to get there at 8am but it may not be until the afternoon. They showed us the court room and the place I have to stand. Mainly I just can't wait until Saturday when I can go home and get into my own bed.

Sitting in the driving seat even without the engine running is enough for you legally to be considered to be on charge if the car. Why would you have the engine running if you weren't intending to drive? Drunk person in car armed with a knife. If i was the police officer I think I'd have punched him too. Sounds like totally appropriate action by the police, and a shame he tried to use his autism to excuse that behaviour. He sounds dangerous. Have you considered a restraining order?

Having ASD doesn't make it OK to carry a knife or drink drive. Sounds like he was totally fairly treated. I don't think that was really what the question was about anyway.

This post is over two years old and you have already posted an identical post on the forum.

You are definitely not the boss!

Are you looking for a book to read yourself, or for your teen to read?

Doctors do tend to assume none of their patients have jobs or any other kind of commitments either. Sounds like work are being a bit officious about the phone call time as well. Can you get a doctor's noteto explain you were not physically able to get to the until he afternoon?

I don't know anything about this drug specifically, but it does sound like it's affecting you badly. I think you need to go back to the doctor and tell him how you're feeling, and maybe even take your husband along to explain the differences he is seeing as well (if he can't come maybe he could write a letter).

I'm not quite sure what you are asking, What are you hoping the clinical physcholgist will give to you?

I work with animals and catch all sorts of "little friends" there. Have you checked whether nit treatments are available on prescription?

Hi Sarni, I can't help on the education side, but I have a couple of suggestions that might be helpful for your son's toiletting problems during the school day. Incontinence pads could "catch" the mess so it doesn't go on his actual pants. They are much smaller than a nappy and should nt be visible through his clothes, so no one else need know he's wearing it. Then he could change the pad if it's dirty and he wouldn't be sitting on his own mess. All the school need to do is provide one of those sanitary towel bins for him to dispose of the used ones. Even primary schools now need to provide these for the girls, and of course they are necessary for the staff anyway, so it's only a case of providing one extra one in the boys' toilet. You can get wet, flushable toilet wipes, which he may find easier for using to clean himself up than dry toilet paper. If other children coming in is a concern, it might help for your son to be permitted to use a disabled or staff toilet. All staff need to be aware he is allowed to be in there so they don't tell him off. It's obviously embarrassing to have to put your hand up in class and ask to go to the toilet. But your son can be given a card or a special signal so that he doesn't have to say this in front of the other children. I hope you can think of a solution. I'm sure there are others here who can help you make the request.

The post is about a child. ESA is only for adults because children are not expected to work anyway. Children get free prescriptions anyway and do not need to get ESA to get free prescriptions. The post is not about prescription charges, it is about how much GF food the child is allowed on prescription. It is very, very clear that the OP is annoyed that her child's GF food allowance has been cut, and wants to warn others that this may happen to them too. If you read the whole post, instead of just one word of it, you will see it is a post about food, and not DLA.

No, ksasnic is worried that the recession which has led to the prescription cuts will also lead to cuts in DLA. She is annoyed about the cuts. As I've already explained but you've chosen to ignore. I don't know why you guys are insisting on going on about DLA, ESA WRAG groups when they are totally unconnected to gluten free prescriptions. Children can't claim ESA, and get free prescriptions anyway, and most certainly aren't going to get forced into working any time soon. Seriously, are you guys deliberately misunderstanding or what?

If I ever have to give Mitzi a tablet I now know who to ask

But Darkshine, this cat has been allowed to go into the bedroom and sit on the bed for the past 9 years. It would be impossible to train that out of a cat very quickly, if ever. If you can't shut the door, another idea is to put a blanket on the bed during the day for the cat to sit on, and taking the blanket off when you get into bed. By the way, dander is skin flakes, rather like dandruff. But what you're most likely allergic to is a chemical in the cat's saliva which gets onto the dander.

Where did DLA come from Trekster? This post is to warn people about the cuts and I think also to have a justified winge about the unfairness of it.

I'm sorry to hear this, it's a lot to take in. I'm sure it does get easier once you unserstand it better. In the meantime, I hope you're getting all the help you need with it.

You'll never get it to stay off the bed if you let it on the room. Your best bet is to just shut the door and not let it in your room at all.