• Clip
• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age under 6 >> Jane and Dan - Interview 57 >> Jane feels close to tears sometimes when her son has a tantrum in public.

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 6-11 >> Sandy - Interview 1 >> Sandy remembers the first time she went to Sainsbury’s without apologising for her sons’ behaviour.

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 18+ >> John and Lynne - Interview 47 >> John and Lynne recall a funny experience and think that Gavin has fewer tantrums now.

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.

• 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 under 6 >> Caron - Interview 15 >> Caron says she “dies of embarrassment” sometimes when she’s out with her son.

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 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 6-11 >> Jeanine - Interview 46 >> Jeanine's son became uncontrollably angry when he missed Dr Who because they were on holiday.

Jeanine’s son was diagnosed with autism when he was five years old. He attends a mainstream primary school with support and has made good progress at school.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> John and Lynne - Interview 47 >> Lynne describes how Gavin would “do the opposite to what you would expect” and had lengthy screaming fits.

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.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> John and Lynne - Interview 47 >> John and Lynne discuss how difficult it would be to have Gavin living at home in the future.

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.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Catherine - Interview 16 >> Catherine talks about how her daily life has changed and how “it is painful to give up everything that you anticipated for your child”.

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 >> Helen - Interview 41 >> Joseph

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 6-11 >> Helen - Interview 41 >> Helen has grown a thick skin over the years and will tell people what she thinks.

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 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 >> Nick and Vikki - Interview 34 >> Nick and Vikki talk about a recent trip to B&Q.

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 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 >> 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 6-11 >> Tony and Alison - Interview 28 >> Tony and Alison say there is nothing worse than “people gawping at you when your child is having a fit”.

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 >> Nuala - Interview 56 >> Nuala thinks games of ‘tag’ and ‘it’ are lethal if you have Asperger syndrome.

Nuala’s son, Robert, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was eight years old. He attends a mainstream primary school with support and is now much happier and settled.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Nuala - Interview 56 >> Nuala describes how they have elaborate plans for everything and “simply don’t change the plan”.

Nuala’s son, Robert, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was eight years old. He attends a mainstream primary school with support and is now much happier and settled.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Mike - Interview 22 >> Andrew

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.