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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Road to discovery :
Autism diagnosis: the beginning
Autism diagnosis: the process
Autism diagnosis: feelings
Causes
Characteristics of autism :
Communication and interaction
Feeling different
Fears, anxieties and anger
Sensory sensitivities
Obsessions
Strategies
Positive change over time
Everyday life :
Activities and interests
Self help skills
Housing
Health and depression
Relationships :
Intimate Relationships
Family Relationships
Friendships
Education and Employment :
Education
Further education
Employment and day services
Difficulties with employment
Support and information :
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Life on the Autism spectrum
Subject index
Topic
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Life on the Autism spectrum
>>
Fears, anxieties and anger
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Fears, anxieties and anger
Fears, anxieties and anger
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Fears, anxieties and anger
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Fears, anxieties and anger
Fears, anxieties and anger
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Sensory sensitivities
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Sensory sensitivities
Sensory sensitivities
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Sensory sensitivities
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Sensory sensitivities
Sensory sensitivities
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Obsessions
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Obsessions
Obsessions
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Obsessions
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Obsessions
Obsessions
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Intimate Relationships
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Intimate Relationships
Intimate Relationships
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Intimate Relationships
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Intimate Relationships
Intimate Relationships
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Friendships
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Friendships
Friendships
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Friendships
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Friendships
Friendships
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Employment and day services
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Employment and day services
Employment and day services
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Employment and day services
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Employment and day services
Employment and day services
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Difficulties with employment
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Difficulties with employment
Difficulties with employment
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Difficulties with employment
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Difficulties with employment
Difficulties with employment
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Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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Daniel - Interview 24
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Daniel describes some of the systems he uses to order his life including counting his breaths on the bus.
Daniel was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 23. Daniel also has OCD and worries a lot about offending people.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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Luke - Interview 35
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Luke describes how he and his girlfriend work at their relationship.
Luke was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was eight years old. He has written three books and is a keen photographer.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men in employment/education
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Peter - Interview 50
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Peter can leave dirty plates in his house but is obsessive about DVDs and videos being lined up in order.
Peter, aged 33, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome three years ago. He is seeing a psychologist regularly which helps him with depression and he is finding life is getting easier over time.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Mary – Interview 01b
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If Mary hadn’t been diagnosed, she wouldn’t be seeing a support worker who understood her.
After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Mary – Interview 01b
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As a child, Mary was very clingy and obsessive about friendships.
After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Mary – Interview 01b
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Mary thinks some people with Asperger syndrome come across as shy but they aren’t shy.
After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Mary – Interview 01b
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Autism can bring certain challenges and difficulties to life but it can also enrich your life in ways, too.
After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Mary – Interview 01b
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A support worker is helping Mary to overcome her fear of going to new places.
After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Mary – Interview 01b
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The first psychiatrist Mary saw said that she interacted too well to have Asperger syndrome. The second carried out specific tests for autism spectrum
After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men in employment/education
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Sam – Interview 17b
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Every single bill is a new challenge for Sam to deal with.
Sam was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago. He is studying for a PhD and lives by himself.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Women not in paid employment/education
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Alex – Interview 04b
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When Alex is unwell, she withdraws from everyday life significantly and watches DVDs for 10 hours a day.
Alex was diagnosed with classic autism aged three years old. She lives independently in an adapted house, with some care assistance. A few years ago she was injured in a road accident and, as a result, now has epilepsy.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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Russell – Interview 07b
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Russell tries to avoid obsessing about things that could go wrong when he is away from home.
Russell was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. His awareness of potential difficulties is increasing as he grows older and more aware. Russell describes himself as being prone to outbursts and is taking anti-depressants.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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Russell – Interview 07b
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Russell calculates the “worst case scenario” when he goes out and worries he’s forgotten to do something important like lock the front door.
Russell was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. His awareness of potential difficulties is increasing as he grows older and more aware. Russell describes himself as being prone to outbursts and is taking anti-depressants.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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John – Interview 08b
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John has damaged the property he rents.
After having a lot of contact with mental health services over the years, John was diagnosed with mild Asperger syndrome aged 45. Previous employment has proved problematic for John and he feels employers should be more aware of Asperger syndrome.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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John – Interview 08b
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John hoards electrical goods and books. He was surprised to find out that hoarding was linked to Asperger syndrome.
After having a lot of contact with mental health services over the years, John was diagnosed with mild Asperger syndrome aged 45. Previous employment has proved problematic for John and he feels employers should be more aware of Asperger syndrome.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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John – Interview 08b
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John’s landlord can cope with the impact his irritability has had on his home.
After having a lot of contact with mental health services over the years, John was diagnosed with mild Asperger syndrome aged 45. Previous employment has proved problematic for John and he feels employers should be more aware of Asperger syndrome.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men in employment/education
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Sam – Interview 17b
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Sam feels he is “psychologically incapable” of doing a job that he isn’t obsessively interested in.
Sam was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago. He is studying for a PhD and lives by himself.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men in employment/education
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Tim and Julie – Interview 09b
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Julie and her sons have adapted their lives to include Tim’s obsession with exercise or he can become “anxious and nasty at times”.
Tim was diagnosed with autism eight years after a paediatrician suggested that there was a family link between himself and his son. Tim has a very supportive wife and they have two sons who also have autism.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men in employment/education
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Ian – Interview 13b
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Ian has a new obsession about people respectfulness and will hold grudges against people who are disrespectful.
Ian is 22 and was diagnosed with autism with he was 8 years old. He is currently doing a vocational waiting at table course and is interested in palaeontology and film making.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men in employment/education
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Ian – Interview 13b
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Ian feels lucky that his interest in paleantology is shared by many people.
Ian is 22 and was diagnosed with autism with he was 8 years old. He is currently doing a vocational waiting at table course and is interested in palaeontology and film making.
Autism
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Life on the Autism spectrum
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Men not in employment/education
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Simon – Interview 16b
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Simon sometimes finds his obsessions comforting. Computer games for example, are more predictable than people so are animals.
Simon, aged 22 was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 years old. He has developed his own strategies to cope during social situations. Simon is interested in animals and aims to find employment in this area. Simon does talks on autism to help people to understand.
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