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• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Bobbi - Interview 30 >> Bobbi thinks her son will be very worried about puberty, particularly after he found having chickenpox so hard to cope with.

Bobbi’s younger son, Charlie, was diagnosed with autism when he was five. He attends a local primary school with support and is getting on very well.

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• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Fears, anxieties, sensory issues and meltdowns >> Fears, anxieties, sensory issues and meltdowns

Fears, anxieties, sensory issues and meltdowns

• >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Fears, anxieties, sensory issues and meltdowns >> Fears, anxieties, sensory issues and meltdowns

Fears, anxieties, sensory issues and meltdowns

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 6-11 >> Rachel - Interview 8 >> Rachel describes a trip to the shoe shop with her sons.

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 12-17 >> Karen - Interview 23 >> Nicole has a lot of different obsessions.

Karen’s old daughter was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 10 years old. She has since been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder and her mother has removed her from school because appropriate support was not provided.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 18+ >> John and Lynne - Interview 47 >> John finds it hard to decide whether or not to tell people that Gavin has autism.

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 >> Jane - Interview 27 >> Jane describes how she tries to help her son feel balanced and learn to recognise his stress.

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 >> Helen - Interview 41 >> Helen has found social stories work well with her son.

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 >> Rachel - Interview 8 >> Rachel’s sons both have ‘horrendous nightmares’.

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 6-11 >> Rachel - Interview 8 >> Rachel’s son would not get in the swimming pool after the teacher said the water was ‘nice and hot’.

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 18+ >> Jacqui - Interview 31 >> Jacqui’s son Ben is a ‘born worrier’ while Joe is like Billy Whizz.

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 6-11 >> Nuala - Interview 56 >> Nuala’s son has learnt to sleep on his own though she and her husband remain on duty each night just in case he wakes up.

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 >> Katrina - Interview 11 >> CBT has helped Katrina’s son deal with some of his fears and anxieties.

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 12-17 >> Joy - Interview 48 >> Joy describes how BBC Seven is her son’s “idea of heaven”.

Joy’s son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was six years old. He attends a mainstream secondary school and is getting on very well.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Rosie - Interview 18 >> Rosie’s son does not see any difference between her or “a complete stranger”.

Rosie’s son, Sam, was originally diagnosed with dyspraxia and then with autism when he was five years old. He attends a special school which has a specialist autism unit which he enjoys.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Rosie - Interview 18 >> Rosie’s son doesn’t like it when she goes out in the evening.

Rosie’s son, Sam, was originally diagnosed with dyspraxia and then with autism when he was five years old. He attends a special school which has a specialist autism unit which he enjoys.

• Autism >> Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum >> Age 12-17 >> Christine - Interview 21 >> Christine’s daughter worried when her teacher said she’d ‘have their guts for garters’ if they didn’t do their homework on time.

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 18+ >> Tracy - Interview 13 >> Tracy’s daughter used to be on melatonin and will wake up about five times a night to ask questions about things.

Tracy’s daughter, Nicola, was diagnosed with autism when she was six years old. Nicola is currently at a college for further education and will start working at the local hospital radio station when she finishes her course.