April is Autism awareness month. okay. but......

[LetZygonsbeZygons]

Autism doesn't last one month of the year does it?

its lifelong.

I realise its a way to get awareness through to people, especially the ones who don't understand it, but then the month passes and everyone forgets it again.

like the saying 'a dog is for life, not just for Christmas'.

Autism/disabilities are for life (in most cases) not just for a month.

Did you see that boy with autism on This Morning? he was just absolutley adorable! and so blessed that the dog has helped him so much.

I saw the little boy on this morning, he was adorable wasn't he.

My Ds has his autism assessment on autism awareness day so here's hoping they are aware!

Personally I don't think autism awareness month is put out there enough, I'm only aware if it because I'm in the right places to be aware if it because my Ds is on the spectrum.

agree. bet half the country wont be aware of it, it still doesn't seem important enough to the media does it?

Feel like linking this thread to ALL the sites on mn and maybe people who aren't aware will be now?

Why though polter

isn't it better for people to ask question etc instead of being ignorant and judgy?

I know this sn site is a lovely site and for the most part everyuones supportive and stuff, but the truth/facts need to get out there don't they?

and if anyone WAS to get nasty, well they can be reported and educated at the same time!?

same here tbh< we feel 'safe' here don't we? .

Im autistic myself too and today after nearly 3 weeks (ive been ill) we ventured out to the shops.

4 shops had changed their layout completely.
DC went mad, then rubbed off on me!

we cant shatnd change. I realise the world cant cant cater fro our needs but I hate change, so does DC.

does anyone else-you or your DC freak out with changes in familiar places?

I felt a little bit sad on Autism Awareness Day. A bit like it was my birthday and everyone had forgotten! Does that make sense to anyone? From what I can see, the only people raising awareness and being involved are the people who are already involved iyswim. I was listening to a programme on Radio 5 this morning about nursery children not being able to speak at age 4 and at no point was autism mentioned as an exception, just that certain, disadvantaged families don't raise their children properly. I'm sure that's the case, but some of these kids will have developmental issues and their parents will be judged as one of those 'certain families'. My older child's mainstream school are doing a fundraiser for another, well deserving charity tomorrow and I will contribute as I do to all fundraisers but it sticks in my throat a bit that this one is almost swept under the carpet. Sorry, I'm rambling but I think Autism Awareness Day made me feel worse!!!

Or as I put it, a bit more bluntly, to my oh today - nobody gives a shit.

know what you mean *one.
we went out for the 1st time in ages and expected the world to just suddenly KNOW, and stop judging us.

tthing is its not important to make sky news haeadlines or anything like that. (fat fiongers excuse my spelling!)is it?

5 mins here or there on a morning prog or radio prog, and that's it.

Well exactly. People who live with autism tuning in to the TV or radio to listen to people who live with autism talk about it! That's how it feels to me anyway.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world walks on by. Think I'd better have a drink tonight lol.

me too. kardashians/Essex/gypsy weddings are more entertaining than medical programmes!!

wish people who don't know and are judgy, especially when I have to repeat myself (and feel like wearing a placard and ringing a bell''hello, excuse, autism'') would sacrifice just one hour of their lives to learn just a teeny weeny bit.

People are judgy, but the pity police are just as bad. Ha ha can't win really can they. But when people say to me, "I don't know how you do it" or "I don't think I could have the patience" etc, that drives me nuts too. It's like some people don't actually get that we love these children just as much as they love theirs, or as much as our own NT children. They are not just a big, fat inconvenience to us. We love them. When I was on an autism course, one of the tutors (who is also a SN teacher) said these children are so loving and unique, and we are very lucky to have them in our lives. That's exactly how I feel about it. It's not the children that are the problem really, it's the lack of understanding around us. I am going to stop now, I am going round in circles! Rant over!

exactly. DCs not a problem, the so called services and envioronment around us ARE.

and yy I get people saying sometimes 'I don't know how you do it' etc. I reply. 'well would you like to come round and do it for a week and see for yourself?'

Have you noticed a difference in peoples awareness and attitudes yet? cant say I have!!

I can't get too cross about the 'I don't know how you do it remarks' (although they are annoying!) because the people who say it are generally trying to be kind and supportive in their own clumsy way, my lovely neighbour being one of them. But the thing is, how do you reply to that?!

Sorry didn't explain all that well. If you say "I haven't got much choice" it sounds disloyal to your child as if they are a burden. If you say "oh he's no trouble really" then you are either boasting about what a wonderful parent you are, or you start them wondering if you have got the mobility car under false pretences .

I usually say "It's challenging, but we manage " which seems to cover it all.