• Topic
• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Dealing with professionals >> Dealing with professionals

Dealing with professionals

• >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Dealing with professionals >> Dealing with professionals

Dealing with professionals

• Clip
• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> Daryll - Interview 6 >> Daryll describes how various services said they had no experience of Asperger syndrome and did not know where to send Tiffany for support.

Daryll’s daughter Tiffany was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 14 and is waiting for an agreement by social services to fund her social care during university.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Rachel - Interview 8 >> Rachel found that everything became ten times easier once her boys were diagnosed and health professionals have been “great”.

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 under 6 >> Caron - Interview 15 >> Caron was not listened to for so long and feels let down.

Caron’s son, Leo, was diagnosed with autism when he was three. He attends a mainstream primary school but Caron worries that he is not receiving appropriate support.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age under 6 >> Caron - Interview 15 >> Caron felt if she “had been a business woman instead of a stay at home mum” she “would have been dealt with a lot better”.

Caron’s son, Leo, was diagnosed with autism when he was three. He attends a mainstream primary school but Caron worries that he is not receiving appropriate support.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Catherine - Interview 16 >> Catherine describes how a comment made by a neurologist made a big difference to her. It was important to hear about treatment options when the diagno

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 12-17 >> Christine - Interview 21 >> Christine thinks that just because someone has studied at university they may not have an open mind or may sometimes be wrong.

Christine’s daughter, Elisabeth, was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder complex, ADHD, separation anxiety, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and learning difficulties. She is currently out of school because of the lack of effective support.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Mike - Interview 22 >> Mike has changed in the way he interacts with health professionals and makes a plea for professionals to use simple language.

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 >> Mary-Anne - Interview 25 >> Mary-Ann found the doctor’s bluntness about Arthur’s future helpful and she needed to be told that he may not “become normal”.

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 18+ >> Ciaran - Interview 26 >> Ciaran thinks that budget restrictions on services can be an abuse of human rights.

Ciaran’s son was diagnosed with autism eight years ago and also has epilepsy and dyspraxia. He is currently doing a course at a college of further education but Ciaran worries about what he will do next.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Tony and Alison - Interview 28 >> Tony and Alison were bemused when their psychologist told them not to bring Nathan to the appointments.

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 18+ >> Jacqui - Interview 31 >> Jacqui thinks a lot of the time professionals don’t want parents to tell them things; “you have to feed their egos”.

Five of Jacqui’s children are on the autistic spectrum and, as they have grown older, Jacqui has found that adult services have few resources and there is no support to help ease her children into employment.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> Carolann - Interview 36 >> Carolann explains why she has no involvement with the health service.

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 12-17 >> Jane - Interview 27 >> Jane thought her son was different from the day he was born.

Jane’s son, John, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 9 years old. He is at a mainstream secondary school and hopes to study augmentation, artificial limbs and electronics at university.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Mary-Anne - Interview 25 >> Mary-Ann has found the lack of free time she has hard because of the lack of appropriate respite care.

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 6-11 >> Mary-Anne - Interview 25 >> Mary-Ann found an internet forum helpful for things that were not discussed in books, such as licking doorways or shopping trolley wheels.

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.