• Clip
• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Sandy - Interview 1 >> Sandy describes puberty as “a fuzzy old area” and how she does not know how her son will cope with it.

Sandy’s older son, Joseph, aged 8, was diagnosed with autism one month before his second birthday. Her younger son, Adam, aged 6, was diagnosed with autism aged eighteen months. Both boys attend a special school which they enjoy.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Catherine - Interview 16 >> Catherine wants her daughters to be out and about in public and explains to people that they can find it difficult to interact with others.

Catherine and her husband have two teenaged daughters, both of whom have been diagnosed with autism. Catherine has homeschooled her daughters using an ABA programme for several years.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Sandy - Interview 1 >> Joseph and Adam

Sandy’s older son, Joseph, aged 8, was diagnosed with autism one month before his second birthday. Her younger son, Adam, aged 6, was diagnosed with autism aged eighteen months. Both boys attend a special school which they enjoy.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Tony and Alison - Interview 28 >> Alison and Tony’s son would fly down the length of the living room and bang his head on the door.

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 6-11 >> Katrina - Interview 11 >> Katrina feels that her daughter “has suffered more than anyone” and is well adjusted considering everything that has gone on.

Katrina’s son, Callum was diagnosed with atypical autism when he was four years old. Callum has been home schooled for the past couple of years after negative experiences in the education system. He is having cognitive behaviour therapy to help him overcome his fears and anxieties.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Helen - Interview 41 >> Helen describes her son’s meltdowns as “like a monster exploding”.

Helen’s older son, Joseph, was diagnosed with autism when he was 7 years old. Joseph now attends an independent church school after a negative experience in a mainstream primary school and is making good progress with appropriate support.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Mike - Interview 22 >> Mike’s daughter used to go to a friend’s house to do her homework and couldn’t bring friends home in case her brother attacked them.

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 >> Nick and Vikki find their son’s tantrum’s difficult to control now he has grown older.

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 18+ >> John and Lynne - Interview 47 >> John and Lynne describe how Gavin is on a carefully controlled low dose of medication to help him with anxiety and frustration.

John and Lynne’s younger son, Gavin, was diagnosed with autism when he was 14 years old. He lives in a residential facility attached to his old school and John and Lynne feel he has had excellent support over the years.