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BBC3 Documentary - The Autistic Me

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Heya everyone have some good news, just found out the documentary has been made now and it will be out on tv soon. I cant wait to watch it, its so exciting. it will be on bbc 3 soon. i keep you posted.

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hi great news please let us no when it is going to be shown looking forward to it

takecare

theresa x

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the documentary i been involved is on bbc 3, 9pm on august 11th. Title has changed to The Autistic Me.

 

I must try and remember that (and not get distracted by Big Brother :rolleyes: ). Thank-you for letting us know.

 

janine

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woohoo next week documentary (Tuesday 11th August) BBC 3, 9PM ' The Autistic Me' here is a short version of the clip im involved in :

 

Special_talent123

 

 

Yes, I've watched the trailer (very good) and hopefully I'll remember to tune in to the show!

 

janine

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The Autistic Me

 

the bbc3website tells u a wee bit more about it.

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Just been forwarded this in an email "The Autistic Me". There's a BBC3 documentary on tomorrow night at 9pm about 3 people living with autism:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m5jb4

 

Synopsis

 

Most young adults take their freedoms for granted - they can choose their friends,

stay out late, learn to drive and decide what they want to do as a career. But for

people growing up on the autistic spectrum, life is very different. Stuck in a

strange limbo between childhood and adulthood, they are unable to make these

choices.

 

This documentary follows three people with autism at pivotal moments on the rocky road to being accepted as an adult. They are all fighting for independence and responsibility, but being frustrated by the shackles imposed on them by their

disability, their families and the preconceived ideas of mainstream society.

 

23-year-old Oli has high-functioning autism (HFA) and is looking to find work. He is finding it tough as his condition means that he can't communicate or deal with

pressure in the same way others can.

 

Thomas has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is approaching 16, the legal age of adulthood. As he does so, he is demanding more independence and wants to escape his family. But the freedom he is after is not forthcoming from his parents.

 

Alex, 24, is looking for love, but when you have the type of autism known as

Asperger syndrome, communicating and socialising can seem an impossible task.

 

there is 3 posts about this already i also have a youtube clip of me and the boy alex meeting up-

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Anyone watching? Could sooo identify with the look on Toms Mums face the morning after a meltdown. Not sure who the forum members are who are on the programme, let me know if you know! Enid

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Got to say well done to the makers of this documentary; it was remarkably unbiased and I found I could relate to each of the people in it in some way.

 

A few things stood out to me especially. Firstly was in Oli's interview with the council worker where he mentioned wanting to do a job relating to the Arts -- and then his Mum piping in with 'repetitive data entry'; if someone said that to me, something that was completely aside from the idea that I had mentioned, I have to say I would be incredibly insulted. Practically, I agree with the mother - but for somebody who is supposedly neurologically typical that shows a remarkable lack of tact and empathy.

 

Second thing was relating to Tom's fight with his Dad. The documentary came over entirely on the side of his parents, and I can appreciate why that is. I'll say now that I disagree with violence in any form -- but I find myself sympathising far more with Tom than his Dad; even if I had hit somebody, being restrained to the ground (for anybody, never mind somebody who is autistic) would aggravate me ten-fold, and at which stage I would personally become incredibly violent. It seemed to me that when Tom hit his mother earlier on in the documentary he was just trying to push her away -- and she seemed to take it as if he was attacking her -- could anyone explain this? It was fairly plain to me that he wasn't intentionally attacking her, but that isn't how it was put across in the documentary.

 

The last thing was very positive; I absolutely loved near the end with Alex's 'date'. I've never been on a date (or been out with a girl alone in a social situation, for that matter), and I'm guessing that the majority of people (maybe not the people on these forums) watching the documentary would think it strange that they both said they enjoyed the data even though very little actual communication was done. Particularly loved that as I know that I would feel exactly the same way. :D

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I agree Tom, I thought the film was very well-made.

 

Very interesting to view us parents of autistic young adults from the outside, so to speak! :ph34r:

 

Bid :)

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I thought it was a really good documentary, at last a real view of real autistic people.

 

Something I will take on board is to allow my autistic child to grow up.

 

Janey

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I agree Tom, I thought the film was very well-made.

 

Very interesting to view us parents of autistic young adults from the outside, so to speak! :ph34r:

 

Bid :)

 

Yes same here. :ph34r:

 

Enid

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thank u im very glad you enjoyed the documentary which i was in it was a shame there was more clips of tom than the other guys with aspergers.

 

Well done to you :thumbs:

 

I thought it was a very good documentary - for me the best thing was how it showed that people with autism are not all the same, which seems to be a common feeling among the general population. I found myself feeling for Tom and his family. I hope they all find the help and guidance that they need.

 

 

 

 

Second thing was relating to Tom's fight with his Dad. The documentary came over entirely on the side of his parents, and I can appreciate why that is. I'll say now that I disagree with violence in any form -- but I find myself sympathising far more with Tom than his Dad; even if I had hit somebody, being restrained to the ground (for anybody, never mind somebody who is autistic) would aggravate me ten-fold, and at which stage I would personally become incredibly violent. It seemed to me that when Tom hit his mother earlier on in the documentary he was just trying to push her away -- and she seemed to take it as if he was attacking her -- could anyone explain this? It was fairly plain to me that he wasn't intentionally attacking her, but that isn't how it was put across in the documentary.

 

Yes, I'd agree with that - they could have gone into that a bit more.

 

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Well done to you :thumbs:

 

I thought it was a very good documentary - for me the best thing was how it showed that people with autism are not all the same, which seems to be a common feeling among the general population. I found myself feeling for Tom and his family. I hope they all find the help and guidance that they need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I'd agree with that - they could have gone into that a bit more.

 

 

that was how it was supposed to come across that we all are different, like there not going to say we are all talent and gifted because some of us arent i helped them to understand what it means too

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I really enjoyed the documentary. I'm watching it again.

 

I was worried about the chosen subjects being quite similar or 'stereotypical' (giving us all something to 'live up to' in the eyes of the general public, and in failing that, perhaps be dismissed) but they were all very different.

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Second thing was relating to Tom's fight with his Dad. The documentary came over entirely on the side of his parents, and I can appreciate why that is. I'll say now that I disagree with violence in any form -- but I find myself sympathising far more with Tom than his Dad; even if I had hit somebody, being restrained to the ground (for anybody, never mind somebody who is autistic) would aggravate me ten-fold, and at which stage I would personally become incredibly violent. It seemed to me that when Tom hit his mother earlier on in the documentary he was just trying to push her away -- and she seemed to take it as if he was attacking her -- could anyone explain this? It was fairly plain to me that he wasn't intentionally attacking her, but that isn't how it was put across in the documentary.

 

I could see Tom reacting in a similar way that my eldest can react when our house is chaotic and noisy. If our house is too active or noisy my eldest has to escape to his room to block out the hustle and bustle. There are only 4 of us living in our house and he finds it difficult. I could see why Tom might be having issues in such a busy household. I also wondered if his school life had played any part in some of the ways he was behaving. They never really went into that apart from saying that he was in mainstream until he was 14 and then went to a specialist school. Although Tom did say that he had been bullied I think.

 

Cat

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I thought it was a really good documentary, at last a real view of real autistic people.

 

Something I will take on board is to allow my autistic child to grow up.

 

Janey

 

100% agree with you here Janey. I try my best not to keep the apron strings attached. I already have one adult son with autism and know how difficult life can be for him. What I do not want is for him to feel in any way smothered by me. My youngest would not allow that to happen and is already flapping his wings aged 12. It's difficult but you have to allow your children the room to grow.

 

Cat

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100% agree with you here Janey. I try my best not to keep the apron strings attached. I already have one adult son with autism and know how difficult life can be for him. What I do not want is for him to feel in any way smothered by me. My youngest would not allow that to happen and is already flapping his wings aged 12. It's difficult but you have to allow your children the room to grow.

 

Cat

 

 

I'd willingly give my lad room to grow, chance would be a fine thing. 14 years we spent so far giving him any and every opportunity and he shows no signs of wanting in to anything mainstream does, indeed seems to be withdrawing more and more since hitting teenage. I was struck (I don't know why !), by how much they could actually TALK, as talking is something my son barely does, to him talking means interaction so he avoids it, at home, at special school anywhere. We went through a period when he was 7 or 8, where he got angry and was trying to hit us both every time we approached him, he'd hurl missiles at neighbours too, it was a stressful time, neighbours were noisy or just their kids running about the garden, and he didn't like that, and would shout at them and if they didn't tone it down he'd go for them,.

 

SHUT UP ! were the only two words he used for a year or two....We kept our heads down and plodded on, he wanted absolute silence and quiet, and more space we weren't giving him obviously, but it is a dilemma, how much space do you give them without at least trying to build up essential skills ? Left to his own devices he wouldn't be dressing himself, would not be washing himself, would not be toilet trained etc, you are pushed to override preferences at times because these basics need to be learnt. Or you could end up with a bully for a child and adult. Ours is an only child so along with autism expects to be the centre of our universe, and is to a great degree. I thought Tom's mother was a bit clingy personally, and feeling guilty for nothing (We've all been there !), but the father-son conflict is as old as the hills and not down to autism, albeit autism can find it expressed VERY directly ! It seems many mothers take over the child aspect, it's essential both parents (If they are around obviously), take a united stance, autism or not. You have to say no sometimes.

 

I have stood between son and mother because he wanted to hurt her, but I don't use restraint, he is sent elsewhere to cool off, or I take him out for a walk or something. His mum does not really know how to address autism, do any of us ? As the boy in the film displayed, moving out to sleep somewhere else didn't phase him much at all, nor did he appear to miss siblings....I think Mum was devastated at that, but many autistics simply do not understand relationships even between close family. When my lad does the same and is semi-residential via college, I know he won't really miss us, as we will miss him, it will just be a 'new routine' he has to adjust to. My lad did everything in reverse if people laughed he would get very angry at the sound of it, if people were upset or cried he would find that VERY funny and would laugh for ages... He enjoys watching people upset on the TV or wherever, if he is bored HE will try upsetting people, but there is no malice at all in it. The dog avoided one lad didn't he ? same here we got rid of one we had for its own safety !

Edited by MelowMeldrew

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that was how it was supposed to come across that we all are different, like there not going to say we are all talent and gifted because some of us arent i helped them to understand what it means too

 

I thought you did really well in front of the cameras...I'd have found that very difficult!

 

Have you kept in touch with Alex?

 

Bid :)

 

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I must say for someone that didn't know what pleb meant he certainly used it well at the end :whistle: I think he deffinately looked it up and understands what it means now-the government can deffinately be plebs!

 

Also did anyone else think it strange when Tom and his family arrived at the school he had to go and do an exam straight away!!!! I didn't think it was planned out very well-I know my son would have needed to settle in and had time to be calmer etc.

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I thought you did really well in front of the cameras...I'd have found that very difficult!

 

Have you kept in touch with Alex?

 

Bid :)

 

yes i keep in touch via email and phone when he is avaliable hoping to see him in person again wont be too long just need money to get on a train:)

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was glued to it myself, Tom has a simular relationships with his mum and dad as does P with us. P will clump me and say sorry afterwards, he says i hate you dad and then calms down and says sorry dad, i love you. boys with asd do react differenly to mums and dads, maybe its the male ego thing, P argues more furiously with older bros and dad,with me, he gets angry,but not into the rages he does with the male members of this family.I have to use respite care for P next month and i am trying not to worry and feel guilty, but from the film Tom was quite happy to have a rest from the family,maybe being so close can be frustrating and restrictive, maybe the 2 nights respite care for P will help him to learn to be more self reliant,I hope.

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Hi special talent.

 

I used to come here all the time but haven't been here for quite some time now. I'm so pleased I had reason to pop back in (thanks Pingu) because I watched the programme last night and was totally in awe of all of you. It was brilliant. I showed people that Autistic people are not all the same. So many people say to me "oh he looks normal to me" about my son. I wonder what they think he should be like. I just hope it transfers to BBC1 so more people will watch.

 

Well done for helping to bring such a brilliant programme to the TV. :notworthy::thumbs::clap:

 

Viper

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Hello Special Talent

 

Thought it was really good - you come across as a lovely person, if I may say so, and Alex reminds me of my nephew. As an NT person, think it helped to give me more of an insight into AS/autism and I can also identify with some of what was said. That party would have terrified me, it was my idea of a nightmare!

 

Billabong

 

 

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Hi special talent.

 

I used to come here all the time but haven't been here for quite some time now. I'm so pleased I had reason to pop back in (thanks Pingu) because I watched the programme last night and was totally in awe of all of you. It was brilliant. I showed people that Autistic people are not all the same. So many people say to me "oh he looks normal to me" about my son. I wonder what they think he should be like. I just hope it transfers to BBC1 so more people will watch.

 

Well done for helping to bring such a brilliant programme to the TV. :notworthy::thumbs::clap:

 

Viper

 

thank u viper

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Well done to all who took part big :thumbs: up. Myself and T watched it i found it to be light hearted in parts and made me smile.

 

I agree with what Tempus has said in his post above also.

 

Well done Special Talent thought you did a great good :thumbs:

 

Teresa :)

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I really enjoyed the documentary. My husband and I both found that we really liked all of the autistic people in the show and thought that they were all funny and nice and unique in their own ways! I wish everybody else in the world would see it the same way. It gave me a lot to think about for the future. I was extremely angry about the man losing his job at the library. The government is happy to pay out millions to people who don't work yet can't keep one man on the books at the library who wants to work and may have a hard time finding anything else. ARGH!! All in all a good documentary I thought.

p.s. Totally agree with Purplehaze about the pleb comment! Thought what he said there at the end was really insightful and right on!!

Edited by skye

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