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Programme about autism?

91 replies

snuggles3 · 18/12/2006 09:48

Hi all

I breifly saw a programme advertised thats going to be on boxing day? I think its was called raising Thomas or about Thomas, i didnt catch what channel or time, anyone heard about it? I will prob record it cus it will be a bit to emotional for me to watch.

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 20:41

ha ha-= that's why I'm watching it- to be prepared for the advice. What I HATE after these things is that people come in a say "oh I never knew it was so hard, how do you cope" etc etc, head on one side- you know the look- and I feel like saying- "well ds1 is a whole lot worse than that but it's tough shit, it's life and at the end of the day you get on with it, and rather than pitying us do something useful and lend us a hand - could do with a spare pair of those quite often"

DS1 really shudders if a furry animal goes anywhere near him at the moment- I made him touch our neighbours dog recently (not being mean- buit this a new thing- sensory aversion to dogs and cats and I don't want it getting any worse). He did but he shuddered at the same time!

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 26/12/2006 21:02

JUST ABOUT TO START

7swansaswimmingup · 26/12/2006 21:05

think it will be a tearjerker and a reality check for people that dont know anything about autism, ive got my tissues ready

Pixel · 26/12/2006 21:37

I'm a bit worried by the Radio Times blurb. "The story of two fiercely determined parents who, with the help of a golden retriever, eventually break into their son's autistic world...."

This seems to be the main theme of any number of 'real-life' autism stories, ie, if you are determined enough you can cure autism, therefore if your child is still autistic then it's down to you. Sort of thing.

Anyway, looks quite good so far (adverts are on!) and all too familiar so I'd better settle down to watch it properly. I've got some babycham and jaffa cakes .

Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 21:38

well they need locks on their front door. Think the dragging down the street scenes are very realistic (but I'm sorry you don't piss around if they sit down in the middle of the road- I can move considerably larger ds1 when I have to- in exactly the way she did- arms under his arms and drag- she could have moved him). Also if you have a child with that little road sense you don't let go of them on the steet- not even to unwrap a lolly. Mind you I only do shoe shopping with 2 people. And everyone knows you don't take autistic children to christenings

Better than I thought it would be so far, but the father's a dick!

7swansaswimmingup · 26/12/2006 21:59

that phil is pissing me off! is he the brotherinlaw.if this is true and he was being that unsympathetic towards a child with autisim i would smack him one

jenk1 · 26/12/2006 22:03

DH has just said that the father is a complete idiot and that he,d like to chin the BIL, i agree about the walking down the road issue, we dont take DS in a town centre near to main roads unless in a car, if i cant get a lift then i dont go with him.

Think keeley hawes is portraying the mum of a child with ASD brilliantly and liked it when the dad said "he,s not autistic, he,s a child that has autism".

The school looked great, IIRC its an actual school for children with an ASD.

oops its starting again, im off!!!

7swansaswimmingup · 26/12/2006 22:15

that is so lovely with the puppy. is that realistic?would he really start chatting like that?

Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 22:15

I have muttered "twat" at the BIL I have to say

BUt they are doing what I thought they would- really laying on the "severe" bit when he is streets and streets ahead ds1- so god knows where that puts him. I really wish they wouldn't do that! Depressing!

Pixel · 26/12/2006 22:18

Good little actor though isn't he?

jenk1 · 26/12/2006 22:40

agree with you there jimjams, i dont think he is "severe".

A lot of the things he,s doing/saying my DS did/does and he has AS, i dont think he has AS-the boy in the film but maybe more towards the middle of the spectrum.

He reminds us so much of our DD, we were told last month that she is probably ASD more to the higher end, the way that this boy is portrayed is just like the way she is.

But then im probably wrong!!!

Pixel · 26/12/2006 22:42

What's that dog doing in a restaurant?

Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 23:02

He was a good actor- in the film he seems what I would call moderately autistic- but if he went on to get 7 GCSE's then I guess he ended up pretty high functioning. I don't think it showed the supervision aspects at all. I wasn't that keen on the "incapable of love' story line- although maybe the boy in question was remote. Although ds1 is far more severe than this protrayal he's very loving towards us. Funny thing autism!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 26/12/2006 23:03

LOL Pixel!

I cried when Granny Pat died and at the end....I strongly suspect it was quite fluffified for viewing by the general public though

Merry Christmas everyone

tamum · 26/12/2006 23:07

I sort of enjoyed it, though it was a bit schmaltzy. I just kept thinking how many people are going to come up to Jimjams et all and tell them all they need is a dog....

onlyjoking9329 · 26/12/2006 23:07

i loved the christmas meal he said what i only thought to the uncle, i think it was a feel good sort of version of autism but not as bad as i thought it might be.

onlyjoking9329 · 26/12/2006 23:09

i wonder how many people within the next week will suggest we get a dog or maybe three one for each child

jenk1 · 26/12/2006 23:13

the bit about not being able to love, i question that because both my 2 can be very affectionate, dd more than ds.

Thought it was done very nicely although i found the ending a little disappointing as if the autism had been "cured" in a way.

We have a dog and i can just imagine family/inlaws etc saying "why dont you use your dog like in that film".

Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 23:16

If my house was that nicely done up I'd spend my whole life stressed

Defintely a "feel good" version OJ. The bit at the end when he said he loved her. And husband and wife hugged. We looked at each other and said "where's the kid?". HOnestly. I mean I would let go of ds1 in a closed environment like that, but I'd never take my eyes off him, and would always be in sprinting distance.

Pixel · 26/12/2006 23:17

I must admit I got a bit sniffly when he said "goodnight Mum". I'd be happy with just the "Mum" part.

tobysmumkent · 26/12/2006 23:18

Message withdrawn

Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 23:21

Tamum- can you imagine adding a bloody dog to my 3?

Pixel · 26/12/2006 23:21

Yes I said to Dh that I'd have picked ds up before I even tried to cross a busy road like that with him. He's getting too heavy now but I would still have a good firm grip and get across quick before he had a chance to try and lie down.

tobysmumkent · 26/12/2006 23:22

Message withdrawn

Tinseltodisguise · 26/12/2006 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.