Anyone here think Jarmain on X factor has ASD??

[lisad123]

Have said it since day one and having heard him say a few things I'm sure he is. Anyone agree?

[sickofincompetenceandbullshit]

Yep! I did/ do too.

[troutpout]

Yes . I thought it the first time I saw him.

[bochead]

Yup - he makes me wanna rush those nasty TV types and protect him when he mentions he's so nervous he worries he'll wet himself, bless. Brings out all my Mama Bear instincts.

[Strongecoffeeismydrug]

I said he was first time I saw him, he's got a fab voice I hope he does well

[lisad123]

I just hope his getting all the support he needs instead of being told to grow some balls

[Ineedalife]

I thought he was really good too but he looked sooo uncomfortable when whatzizname rubbed his hair.

I agree about him needing support, lets hope they actually did learn some lessons from Su BO.

[sweetteamum]

Couldn't agree more. I thought it and so pleased he's got through.

Lets hope all involved with him are aware and he's supported.

[moosemama]

Oh my goodness! I don't watch X factor, but just watched his audition on YouTube.

He is the absolute double of my nephew, in looks, mannerisms, speech, everything. I honestly thought it was him for a second there, until I saw his Mum.

Dnephew can't sing, afaik, but he does have Asperger's and his facial expressions and nervous body movements are almost identical.

Just called dh and ds2 to look at a still image of him and they both thought it was Dnephew until they realised what I was watching.

[troutpout]

Yes I was cringing for him with the rubbing of his hair too. I think Dermot realises he can't do touchy freely so he rubbed his hair instead ( which is possibly worse ... Ds hates his hair being touched) . He coped with it really well but I could tell it peed him off! Very funny that he retaliated and tried to rub Dermot's hair back !
Also hated the 'grow some balls' statement when he had problems with anxiety.
He is sooooo talented. Really interesting when Nicole said he does a different version of the song he is practicing each time he performs it.

[whatthewhatthebleep]

I am really rooting for him. He is a very special young man and an inspiration to us all I think...I'm so glad he got through...but he really will need some sensitive support I think and I hope this has been realised by the producers, etc.
Nicole making that comment did make me ...

It seems quite obvious to most of us here but I wonder about whether the people around him on this show have any idea???
...has it been mentioned at all by anyone?...not really up on the reporting/media thing so may have missed it being mentioned somewhere...

I would hope that his confidence and self assurance will increase if he is supported well in this. He has obvious OCD traits too I think...he is always so immaculate and well groomed, etc he has a very precise way with things I feel. Dermot ruffling his hair was definitely a no, no for him too.

I'm all for him and young Ella doing really well....

[lisad123]

What part are you uncomfortable with?

[lisad123]

Im sorry it makes you feel that way these plenty of other sites suggesting the same

[Triggles]

This idea (in general throughout the thread) makes me uncomfortable as well. We don't know this boy from Adam and have never met him (well, I've never seen him either as don't watch xfactor) but are discussing not only whether or not he has ASD, but that it's "obvious to us" as well as wondering if those around him know it or are supporting him.

How often do we on this board get upset when people make judgements about our children based on just a brief encounter or seeing them? Aren't we doing the same??

Just because other sites are suggesting it as well doesn't make it any less intrusive IMO.

[moosemama]

I kind of get what you are saying Tiredness and do understand your concern, but parents of other children who have ASD discussing someone, who has chosen to go on the television, is not the same as a tabloid or magazine doing it.

I think we are posting from the point of view of concern that he is properly considered and taken care of (regardless of whether or not he actually does have AS) rather than exploited as certain previous contestants have been, also from the perspective of understanding how incredibly talented and brave he is to get up there and sing and additionally because, if he does have AS, he is another person out there who is showing our dcs that anything is possible. People speculate about all sorts of 'celebrities' from Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, purely because what those people have achieved is remarkable and I think as parents of children who have AS, we find it comforting to think about how our own dcs could do likewise. These people are inspirational.

Of course going on the TV and singing is a really brave thing for anyone to do, but the fact that a particular contestant appears more vulnerable than many of the others and that many of us recognise aspects of our own family members or dcs in him, makes us all the more interested in his appearance on the programme.

As I said, I don't watch it, but millions of people do and they will be speculating about all sorts of things to do with the contestants and usually not out of concern for their welfare.

[moosemama]

The thing is, I do sometimes get upset when people make judgements about my dcs, but not when the judgements aren't negative.

For me I am often taken aback when people appreciate how hard it has been for ds to do something that other children his age would take in their stride.

Plenty of people have told me since his dx that they had always suspected and I'm sure many of them have had conversations about him that I wasn't party to. I have no problem with this, as long as they are coming from the angle that they always felt ds was 'different' or perhaps even suspected he had AS, but that that didn't make him 'less than' his peers.

It's hard to explain and I am probably digging a great big hole for myself here, so I'll shut up now.

[Triggles]

moosemama no no, I get WHY people on here are speculating, and I realise it isn't in a judgey way. It just makes me a bit uncomfortable. I didn't report it and don't plan to. I was just commenting in general,that's all.

[lisad123]

It's fine triggles, if that's how you feel it's valid as far as I'm concerned. I certainly wouldn't be asking on FB but have had a rl convo with another SN mum.

[Triggles]

I've always wondered if we see people we "think" have SNs simply in the same way that when you are pregnant, you see more pregnant women? Does that make sense? Like we're looking for it, so we convince ourselves we see more than maybe what we see? Just curious, really.

[mymatemax]

No, just thought he is very nervous & shy.

[googlenut]

Another who didn't think he has ASD but is just a bit nervous

[onceortwice]

I'm not a regular watcher of the X Factor... just looked up his audition... Seems to me that they know there is something and are playing on that...

Who cares... the boy can sing