• Topic
• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Early signs; behaviours and action >> Early signs; behaviours and action

Early signs; behaviours and action

• >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Early signs; behaviours and action >> Early signs; behaviours and action

Early signs; behaviours and action

• Clip
• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Tony and Alison - Interview 28 >> Alison and Tony felt differently about the diagnosis; Tony says it was cold comfort, while Alison felt more emotional.

Tony and Alison’s son, Nathan, was diagnosed with autism three years ago. He is currently in a mainstream primary school and will move to a special school for his secondary education.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age under 6 >> Nicki and Mark - Interview 14 >> Nicki struggled with feelings of guilt and anxiety about Tyler’s future for 18 months after receiving the diagnosis.

Nicki and Mark’s son, Tyler, was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old. He attends a special school and they are delighted with his progress.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age under 6 >> Nicki and Mark - Interview 14 >> Nicki struggled with feelings of guilt and anxiety about Tyler’s future for 18 months after receiving the diagnosis.

Nicki and Mark’s son, Tyler, was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old. He attends a special school and they are delighted with his progress.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Mike - Interview 22 >> Mike’s support group organises a week in Pontins each year for over 100 people.

Mike’s youngest son, Andrew, was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. He moved to a specialist residential school a year ago, after spending a year excluded from school because of challenging behaviour.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Nick and Vikki - Interview 34 >> Vikki thinks you could almost “slit your wrists” because you have to present such a negative picture for the DLA forms.

Nick and Vikki’s younger son, Peter, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was five years old. He attends a specialist resourced provision attached to a mainstream primary school which he enjoys.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age under 6 >> Jane and Dan - Interview 57 >> Jane gave up work ten months ago because attending appointments and caring for her son was getting more difficult.

Jane and Dan’s son was diagnosed with autism six months ago. He has a sleep disorder and has some difficulties eating food.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Dot - Interview 9 >> Dot felt the diagnosis would make everyone take her seriously at last and when she got home phoned everyone to tell them the news.

Dot’s son Joe was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 7 years old. He attends a specialist Asperger Unit which is on the site of a mainstream secondary school and he is getting on very well.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Mary-Anne - Interview 25 >> Mary-Ann felt devastated when her son was diagnosed but came to recognise that what mattered most was for him to be happy.

Mary-Anne’s son, Arthur, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, Tourettes syndrome and elements of ADHD and OCD three years ago. He attends a special school which he enjoys.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Paula - Interview 5 >> Paula felt “incredible relief” to get the diagnosis as she had been questioning her parenting ability.

Paula’s older son Alex was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago and her younger son David has been diagnosed with ADD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, agitated depression, speech dyspraxia and Asperger syndrome over the years. Both boys attend a mainstream secondary school and Paula is still trying to organize appropriate support for David.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Rachel - Interview 8 >> Rachel thinks her son will have a hard time with puberty because he will be bothered by bodily changes.

Rachel’s sons, Thomas and Matthew, have both been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. They both attend a mainstream primary school with support.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Liz - Interview 2 >> Liz’s son has had his first sex education lesson at school and she has explained to him that these are not the sort of things you talk about in public

Liz’s son, Jonas, aged 11, has been diagnosed with epilepsy, ADHD and Asperger syndrome and Raphe, the youngest son, has Downs Syndrome. Jonas attends the local mainstream primary school but Liz is worried about the move to secondary school.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> Carolann - Interview 36 >> Though Nita has written a book and Carolann is “so blinking proud of her”, she is not leading the life she wants.

Carolann’s daughter, Nita, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 14. Nita has written a book about her experiences, had some unsuccessful experiences at university and is currently teaching herself Russian, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> Diana - Interview 33 >> Diana worries about her daughter’s vulnerability and what will happen when she and her husband are no longer around to support her.

Diana’s daughter, Vicky, 37, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 33 years old. Vicky lives independently and spends the weekends with her parents.