• Topic
• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Support groups >> Support groups

Support groups

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Support groups >> Support groups

Support groups

• Clip
• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Peter and Myrtle - Interview 03 >> Peter read a leaflet at the doctor’s surgery and found that 90% of the symptoms described fitted him.

Despite some difficult times, Myrtle describes being incredibly fond of her husband and, when she was in ill health for a number of years, Peter looked after her like ‘an angel’. Peter was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 80. He is having counseling which is helping him to become more aware of the extremes of his behaviour and to control his temper.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> John - Interview 52 >> John describes how he meets other people with Asperger’s every week at a pub with “no music, no juke box, no football and no rowdy crowds”.

John, 65, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 62. He had a series of jobs and started some university courses over the years but is now unemployed and fills up his days ‘by wasting time’.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Daniel and Margaret - Interview 54 >> Daniel has realised that people with Asperger syndrome are all different through meeting different people at a support group.

Daniel was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 11 years old. He does voluntary work one day a week and Margaret runs a support group for people with Asperger syndrome.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary attends a structured support group where they discuss emotions and talk about how they have been feeling.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Ian – Interview 13b >> Ian finds it easier to make friends with autistic people as they think the same.

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 >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Richard and Sue - Interview 10 >> Richard and Sue discuss how there are no support groups near them and how support should be directed to youngsters who need more help “to find their p

Richard was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome seven years ago after being referred to a specialist diagnostic centre. He is working hard to change aspects of his behaviour for his wife and family.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Russell – Interview 07b >> Russell mimics people from books so avoids reading them. He doesn’t feel the NAS represents people as they would want to be represented.

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 >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Vicky - Interview 38 >> Vicky finds her support group a place to get away from everyday situations and have a normal life.

Vicky was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 33. She lives independently and has a good social life and supportive family but has found it difficult to get employment.

• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Autism support groups and internet use >> Autism support groups and internet use

The people we talked with had differing support needs [see Everyday life with autism and organisation skills]. Some people we talked with had high levels of support need and had twenty four hour care worker support. Other people, whilst leading apparently normal and successful lives, still experienced disruption or difficulty in their lives and their relationships and their ability to function due to their location on the spectrum.
 

Some people talked about needing very little or no support, or trying to manage without support. One woman, for example, talked about how she could do her own shopping “and things like that” but needed support if she got a job [see Employment].

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Autism support groups and internet use >> Autism support groups and internet use

The people we talked with had differing support needs [see Everyday life with autism and organisation skills]. Some people we talked with had high levels of support need and had twenty four hour care worker support. Other people, whilst leading apparently normal and successful lives, still experienced disruption or difficulty in their lives and their relationships and their ability to function due to their location on the spectrum.
 

Some people talked about needing very little or no support, or trying to manage without support. One woman, for example, talked about how she could do her own shopping “and things like that” but needed support if she got a job [see Employment].

• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Information >> Information

Information

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Information >> Information

Information