call me jaded Report post Posted March 30, 2009 Daily Wail today. Funnily enough I am hosting a Taking Care of the Carers Pamper Day tomorrow. I think the local rag might quote me saying something about putting my makeup bag away somewhere safe in 1999*. Must be in the same place that my LBD is hidden. (*already done the interview, photo tomorrow) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted March 30, 2009 And the article proves what exactly?? That not all mums of autistic children look like Shrek on a bad day? What are they campaigning about, or for? Yes they all scrub up well, ex actresses/models/dancers/tv presenters all, and they or their partners are confident enough, influential enough and rich enough to get help for their children without too much of a scrap. And they've probably got nannies. And given all that, they still can't crack a smile for the group photo. Jaded, if you get in the local rag do send us a link. K x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
call me jaded Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Autism is aspirational... that must be it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barefoot wend Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Grrrrrr! Agree with you on this one Kathryn - me, bitter and twisted! Why don't they come a take a piccie of normal folk for a change. The Telegraph run a weekly column in their mag about their reporter who has four children as if no-one else in the world had four children. AND, my niece is her full-time nanny. Strangely, she never gets a mention. I'm going to comb my hair. Barefoot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moll Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Oh no am I a bad mother due to wearing my ancient jogging bottoms and my husbands homer Simpson PJ top or am I just a mother who's husband is on late shift and took dd to school while I stayed at home with ds and had my arm hugged. I'm sorry but its not a representative group, they all have successful lives where are the mothers who want or need to work, the ones who can't afford legal fees and systems to help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickyB Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Personally, I look like that every day I've got nothing against the women concerned - good luck to them - but I wasn't quite sure of the point they were trying to make? They are not exactly representative of the general population, and I was left feeling a little bit patronised Now, I'm off to dish up some school dinners in my LBD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris54 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 You will have to forgive me if I sound a little odd, I seem to be suffering from concussion. The last thing I can remember was showing my beloved that picture and saying something about making an effort. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickyB Report post Posted March 31, 2009 You will have to forgive me if I sound a little odd, I seem to be suffering from concussion. The last thing I can remember was showing my beloved that picture and saying something about making an effort. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moll Report post Posted March 31, 2009 You will have to forgive me if I sound a little odd, I seem to be suffering from concussion. The last thing I can remember was showing my beloved that picture and saying something about making an effort. I did try to make a effort and find the pj bottoms to match the top but sadly they are somewhere in my washing ironing or putting away pile All mams with autistic children make a effort mine is to wash and dress before ds destroys the house or finds the key and wanders off or hurts himself, I then make a effort to do the school run without him running out in front of a car or hurting another child, I then make the effort to get through the day without a meltdown (mine or his ) my whole day is a effort. As for dressing up and makeup I'll leave that to my nearly 6 year old or ds he walks better in heels than I do. I got the impression from the article it was we were a success before autism affected our lives and we have given so much up, well we all do, ok I choose to give it all up when dd was little. I would love to know who the campaign is directed at parents telling us to pull ourselves together or policy makers saying help us. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Hmmm. Don't think it's got much to do with 'the positive promotion of autism' but 'the positive promotion of our business - did we happen to mention we publish a magazine?' The magazine itself has been criticised for being less than positive in some of the articles it publishes, and some of the ads it carries for 'cure' interventions and stuff. In fact, even this article is full of negatives 'shattered dreams', 'lost children' etc... I took this at random, but it says itall i thinK: He is utterly beautiful, but perfection on the outside masks the damage wreaked within. I suspect these people - from the descriptions given - do not 'live & breath autism 24/7'. They sound very privileged, and I suspect they have resources or access to resources most of us can only dream of. How many here have been able to fly off to America to investigate the latest treatments, or had the financial resources to privately acquire the first imported batches of pig hormones for a private practitioner to 'shoot up' our kids with? I'm also very nervous about their 'charidee', and their 'special community housing'... Similar parent run charitees have been criticised in the past for sticking within quite narrow agendas - i.e. developing sites that effectively support the children of the charity's board but offer very little to the community or the rest of the autistic population whatsoever... That said, I wouldn't kick Rachel Christodoulou (37) out of bed for eating biscuits! What? It's not sexist - why do you think they did a glam calendar? For anyone interested, I still have a couple of copies of my own calendar available, raising money for My son's Wii fit: Sample : August: 'frolics on the beach' The original mag discussion threads as started by Lucas are below: http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...hl=autism++file http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...hl=autism++file L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearl Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Its a new diagnostic criteria, didn't you know? Mother must be drop dead gorgeous Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmuir Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Hi Frankly I think that's a wasted opportunity. The focus should have been on Autism - increasing awareness, outlining what it is, how it affects people, but also some positives too ie how some jobs suit people affected by an ASD, making them an employer's dream, as well as naming some famous people (showing that we do need people that are different/what we would have been missing). Instead it's more about how one can still scrub up well with a session with a stylist/make up artist/photographer. Is this feature supposed to glamorise autism (or do what precisely)?! Caroline. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted March 31, 2009 What an annoy piece of drivel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frogslegs Report post Posted March 31, 2009 And the article proves what exactly?? That not all mums of autistic children look like Shrek on a bad day? What are they campaigning about, or for? Yes they all scrub up well, ex actresses/models/dancers/tv presenters all, and they or their partners are confident enough, influential enough and rich enough to get help for their children without too much of a scrap. And they've probably got nannies. And given all that, they still can't crack a smile for the group photo. Jaded, if you get in the local rag do send us a link. K x I like that one. Posh autism ehhh!! Who would have thought.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted March 31, 2009 We could always do an alternative version.Alas I do not scrub up so well.....grey round the edges,track suit bottoms,can't remember the last time I put on make up,drive a clio with a roof top box and currently more likely to feature in gardening than glamour.....agents don't all rush at once. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisac Report post Posted March 31, 2009 hehehehhe, surely all publicity is good though? and baddad, surely No4 over No2? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) Gah!! Actually, I look this even though I work full-time, have ASD, have a son with ASD...oh, and have spent the last 4 plus days in hospital with my daughter! Ack...must have set back the cause for sexual equality, never mind autism, by about, ooh, 50 odd years! Edited March 31, 2009 by bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted March 31, 2009 No4 over No2? Noooooo.... number THREE - the brunette wearing the gold cross. Number four looks like she needs a good feed-up - get a few carbs dahn 'er gullet! But why is someone named 'Lisa' worried about which one is prettiest? as for all publicity is good - try telling that to Jacqui Smith or Michael Barrymore! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisac Report post Posted March 31, 2009 baddad i dont need to worry about anything Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
call me jaded Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Maybe because we have just spent a day getting buffed (with lots of laughter and some tears along the way) but I found the Youtube film quite moving. I have a list of makeup to buy as long as my arm. I missed the photographer for the paper - it'll be my friend Maria, and Nick's feet being reflexologied (he's stressed, apparently). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonj186 Report post Posted March 31, 2009 im sorry but there are just not enough hours in the day!! i would love the chance to prance around looking all high maintenance unfortunatly my time is spent caring for my son, working, and and in meetings about my sons education/health etc! all off which i do by myself as my husband is in the raf and is never ###### home! most days i can just about find time to drag a hairbrush through my badly needing cut hair! GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
call me jaded Report post Posted March 31, 2009 im sorry but there are just not enough hours in the day!! i would love the chance to prance around looking all high maintenance unfortunatly my time is spent caring for my son, working, and and in meetings about my sons education/health etc! all off which i do by myself as my husband is in the raf and is never ###### home! most days i can just about find time to drag a hairbrush through my badly needing cut hair! GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR That would have been my response about five years ago. I can't quite work out what the message is - if it's providing for my child where governments have failed, then I've got the t-shirt and the LBD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted March 31, 2009 Nice legs, shame about the F........ ..... ilosoffy (spelling never was my strong point) Of course, I refer only to the stuff I read about 'autism file', but I'd be a lot more interested in this stuff if it wasn't for all the 'autism speaks' and 'DAN' connections L&P BD PS: perhaps we ought to organise an 'autism dad's' photoshoot? Hope the photographer remembers his wide angle lens... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisac Report post Posted April 1, 2009 hehehe at the suggestion of an autism dads photoshoot, now that would be positive , Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
**Mia Report post Posted April 1, 2009 Hello, Looking closely at their pictures and their ages it makes me think they all took ten years off their real ages. There is no way they are as young as they say they are. Or do Aussies look much younger because of the weather being kinder. Mia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris54 Report post Posted April 1, 2009 hehehe at the suggestion of an autism dads photoshoot, now that would be positive , Not sure about that, if I was included it would be more like something out of Crime Watch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moll Report post Posted April 1, 2009 Would not a photo shoot of the children of been better, saying we are here we exist, our parents fight every day for our basic rights help them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
isme Report post Posted April 1, 2009 LBD? I assume my jeans and whichever top is cleanest doesnt count? Still don't get the main point of the article tbh, have reread it several times and are still not sure..... Shame, could have been done so much better!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted April 1, 2009 I like the headline "if you want to be heard you need to get noticed". I'm sure many parents could testify to the fact that their children frequently 'get them noticed', especially on shopping trips! Wasn't this woman on Steve Wright (channel 5) this morning?? It seems that all parents have the same main issue Education. And then After Education. I don't have an awful lot of time myself, but I have taken issues to my own City Council and recently had a meeting with the Director of Commissioning for Services. Who informed me that 'most' parents want their child mainstream. I just don't believe that, as I go to two support groups and every single parent has issues with their child in mainstream. I think 'inclusion' is a mantra with no evidence that it helps. I cannot find one adult person on the spectrum who says that being at mainstream was great - NOT ONE. I think the best is Enhanced Resource (ie. mixed mainstream and special needs), or Aspergers/HFA only schools. But special schools are closing and the LEA is losing those centres of experience and expertise and they cannot be brought back. Because ASDs are a 'spectrum' disorder and every child is different there are a thousand variations of characteristics and difficulties, sometimes additional learning difficulties such as dyslexia, co-morbid conditions etc. There is no way that a 'training day' is going to educate mainstream staff to a level that they can be effective. It is like using a thimble full of water to put out a house fire. What we need is the right level of training and provision in enough schools to meet parents and childrens needs. We don't want a provision so thinly spread over all mainstream schools that it is ineffective. I waited 3 years for my son's mainstream school to train up, and I finally gave up when the school were refused extra funding for supports for my son "not because your son doesn't need them, but because the school could not demonstrate how to use these extra hours effectively". I am prepared to do whatever I can to inform people of what I know. I am prepared to go on a march and sign a petition and write letters. I am prepared to make waves and meet with people and ask them to justify their actions and policies. Although I do go to two support groups. One is just for the children and parents to socialise which is really nice. The other is a local NAS group. I find that the affiliated NAS group has got no fight in it for local issues, local schools, common problems that we all have. There is talk of diagnosis rates may now be 1:60 children. And still there is no definitive answer as to what is causing it. Where are all these children going to go? On a lighter note, if I tried to get into a LBD I would look like a black sausage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted April 1, 2009 (edited) Would not a photo shoot of the children of been better, saying we are here we exist, our parents fight every day for our basic rights help them. Although maybe those of us with autism aren't photogenic enough? Bid Edited April 1, 2009 by bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted April 1, 2009 I like the headline "if you want to be heard you need to get noticed". Hi sally Yes, I agree with you on that, but my big concern is what people will hear if these women are heard, and their words are taken as representative... As I said in my first post, the main thing they are 'advertising' is their magazine - Autism File - and the content of that is often less than positive. the magazine also aligns itself, through interviews and advertising, with groups like 'Autism Speaks' (a lobby group that has no official spokesperson who is themself on the spectrum! ), and 'DAN' an organisation that promotes programmes of normalisation that (IMO and that of many others) target desperate parents with scare tactics, 'shame' and promises of 'cures'... If all these ladies were saying was 'our children need support and an appropriate education system' I'd don a LBD myself (look like a black pudding, surely, if you want your description to hold up... and don't call me shirley...) and show the worlf my varicose veins On education - fundamentally i agree with much of what you say, but i do think it's a bigger/more complex issue than you state. Our education system isn't just failing autistic people - it's failing millions of neurotypical kids too. The real issue is whether schools are 'greenhousing' or 'warehousing' our kids, and sadly I think many special schools are failing them too. My son benefitted hugely from a mainstream primary education, and is now benefitting from a specialist secondary education. For other kids the 'best deal' might work the other way round, or be all mainstream or all specialised - it's horses for courses. The overriding factor, though, in either case, has to be communication and cooperation between home and school, and the reasons that can break down are not always as straightforward as some would like to suggest. L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
