
Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.

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As some of you know my son has just been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.Have now started telling family and friends.Already i'm amazed at the reaction.Family are great and are relieved but friends with all good intentions are unbelievable..they tell me they would never have guessed looking at him....aaaahhhh.As a doctor friend says are they born with some sort of birth mark to identify them.How do i cope calmly with such well intentioned ignorance..love being able to let off steam on here with people who know exactly how it feels.
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I told him I was well aware he had Autism, that I wasn't there for a diagnosis, I was there for his crotch. I then flung back to the doctor, "So after all youv'e done . After all you're a doctor and you know all the right things to do. And your Wife is a teacher. ... I suppose your son is fully verbal right?
"uh, well he talks",
"yeah, so does mine.. but he's not conversational. Is yours? Since you seem to know everything!"
"uh, yeah he talks. "
"SO, I guess yours Isn't fully conversational either. They sound the same. So we must both be doing all the same things. Good, now that we've settled this, can you look at the reason I brought him today?"
Dummy! They all think they know everything!
i recieve the same statements,
"oh ReallY??? He does not look it" I will ask them, "well then.. what DOES? it LOOK like?"
be prepared for:
"Oh thats cool! he is really smart??
"OHHH he is like rainman??"
"What will you do when he gets older??"
Blah blah blah...people avoid us if he is stimming in public ya know like waiting in line at the store, people look and move to a different cashier. Esp if they have kids.
Some don't tho they are pretty cool.
When people have said "Its Ok"
That he has autism. I say.."No actully No Its Not OK"
We are here and we all understand!!!!
Or there is the time that I was in a mall, son in stroller...at that point he was still very young, just over a year I guess...and an older lady proceeded to tell me it was very 'stupid' of me to give my son chocolate milk in a sippy cup...she went on and on...then I had my piece...first of all it was none of here business..and second of all 'stupid' is what she was...it was friggin V-8 juice!!!! She never even appologised! That is when I learned some people are small minded and just plain 'stupid'!!! That being said...I have met some wonderful people that don't blame and would do almost anything to help...guess it takes all kinds!! :o) And if the lady with the chocolate milk problem is the worst I get, I'm just fine with that!!! :o),
I hear you need respite, yeah? I say you gonna come over and watch steven while i go? Thats BS. why? because the ones who say that to me, cant do it. they have reasons, I dont like it when people preach about what i need or what steven needs and they have not walked even an hr in my shoes.
I think ignorance is the most common mental illness, and that the people who act that way need to be trained, so if they are rude I educate them, not about Oli but about life and if that person is the non-professional I am paying, I change doctors or refuse the schools service when the staff is ignorant, I am not letting that level of disrespect and ignorance affect me, at least not negatively. I will be affected to get a lawyer and sue the school, since they continue to be ignorant and non-compliant.
A little more awareness would go a long way. When people stare at the shops or something, I just look at them and say "he has autism" - most look embarrased and walk away, honestly! But I agree, I hate it when people try to advise you on how to 'fix it'. Believe me, if it was as simple as putting him on a yeast free diet, I would have done it years ago! Same for accupuncture, hypnotherapy, brain surgery, insulin injections, preservative free diets, various drugs, and every other looney idea someone has suggested because they saw some article or documentary