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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:
Pixel · 26/12/2006 23:25

Ds has never headbanged a wall. He headbangs other things which is why dh has no front tooth!

tobysmumkent · 26/12/2006 23:28

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RTKangaSANTAMummy · 26/12/2006 23:30

I thought Andrew {the little boy actor} was deffo brill as Kyle

He was 6 years old and had never acted properly before

I saw the family on THIS MORNING a few weeks ago too.

tobysmumkent · 26/12/2006 23:34

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tobysmumkent · 26/12/2006 23:34

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Blossomgoodwill · 26/12/2006 23:42

There 6 yr old dd was also dx with asd.

Reading that link they seem such a strong, lovely family

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 26/12/2006 23:46

What is the best way to explain to other children what is happening during a meltdown?

Like in the shoe shop

Sorry if I have put that across as rude but I can't work out how to ask the question

Blossomgoodwill · 26/12/2006 23:49

not sure really RTKM. You have a ds with some sn don't you? Are you asking the question for him?

tobysmumkent · 26/12/2006 23:53

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RTKangaSANTAMummy · 26/12/2006 23:57

Yes DS has Dyspraxia among other things but he doesn't really have meltdowns

Sorry for not explaining I was really meaning how to explain to a child seeing the meltdown and staring wondering what is happening

Jimjams2 · 26/12/2006 23:58

ds1 has them in shoe shops because he can't wait. He won't sit in one place long enough to try shoes on (hence th need for 2 people - one to walk around with him and return him to the shoes periodically and one to deal with the staff). I'm not sure it would matter what you said there and then tbh, when ds1 goes off on one I don't really notice other people that much.

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 27/12/2006 00:05

Thanks for explaining Jimjams

mamadadawahwah · 27/12/2006 00:06

I was pleasantly surprised and really liked it. I expected to see nothing mirroring my own life, and much of it did. Obviously did some research before they started filming.

I wonder what the head of the residential school was trying to convey to them? Was it about resources or was he saying to them "give him more of a chance?"

I thought the little lad was fabulous in the part too.

all round good viewing in my opinion. I hope against hope that lots of people watched and that it will develop some interest/discussion.

maddiemostmerry · 27/12/2006 10:00

It was OK. Recognised the "DONT SAY" as my ds4 is very like this.
I don't believe they could let him walk by the road holding just the dogs lead, I still have to hold my eight year olds hand all the time.
It didn't really show the language complexities at all, the child went from little speech to using sentences quite correctly. Ds3 has been speaking for some time now but sentence constuction is still a biggie.
Also thought they used way too much language when they spoke even in the unit. Not enough "good sitting" etc.
It was ok but only skimmed the reality, he wasn't that severe I didn't think really.

Jimjams2 · 27/12/2006 10:17

yes -and his parents used a ridiculous amount of language, that made me cringe. All those shots of him sitting down with his dad carefully trying to explain something. There's no way ds1 would sit like that. He wasn't severe- which is fine he obviously had lots of problems- but I just wish they wouldn't hammer home the "oh he;s so severe the most severe child around" because if people watched that then think that represents severe autism they would be overestimating ds1's abilities considerably and probably wondering why I make such a fuss when we have to go out to places. (Such as employ someone to come with us, or refuse to go to christenings etc).

mummy2aaron · 27/12/2006 10:18

Nice film but made asd look a bit rosy imo. Would like it if I got away with a little hair pulling and scratches to the face, they were more able to afford my £500.00 Physio bill than I am.

They had one child - a mini mansion - a fair amount of quality support from her parents - come on lets see something a bit more realistic - there are many more real life situations out there which they could have picked from when making the film.

Not gritty enough for me but well acted.

Just not looking forward to all the people i know asking me when I am getting a dog for Jack!

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 27/12/2006 10:22

They said it reflected their story well, though

Scared the life out of me in that Dad spent Chrsitmas convincing me Harry just ahd hearing issues (despite him being cleared many times by Audiology), watched this and watched Harry alongside..... except harry does have 'normal' moments and 'completely not here' moments which is not something I've read about: normally its either one or t'other isn't it?

maddiemostmerry · 27/12/2006 10:29

Was glad that they said most asd children are terrified of dogs though.

We did manage a wedding reception recently. DS3 & 4 spent a lot of time trying to run out of door and crying.
Ds4 saw the wedding cake and threw a big wobbly as it could only be a birthday cake. The bride was lovely and sang Happy Birthday with him on her lap. It is wonderful when people just do the best thing for you

Jimjams2 · 27/12/2006 10:42

aww that's sweet maddie.

Not sure what you mean peachy- even ds1 can have very holding it together moments when he appears very "normal" intersperesed with off the planet moments

Blossomgoodwill · 27/12/2006 11:43

I got chocked up at the end when I saw how much he eventually acheived with his gcse's and childcare course.

ShinyHappyStarOfBethlehem · 27/12/2006 17:04

We are away visiting inlaws atm and DH and I watced this last night in a Travel Lodge room. Our DS doesn't have autism but a lot of the behavioral issues that family faced were familar to us; battling in shops, having my hair yanked from the root and my face scratched. And the rude people who stare and judge! Grrrrr!

It made me cry. One of the reasons we stay at a hotel for much of the time we visit the in laws is because of their inability to handle DS's 'ways' (altho admittedly we struggle ourselves!). So I hoped they were watching it too if only to appreciate a little of ther exhaustion and pressure that we face every day. But they weren't. Ah well!

I thought it was excellent. Makes me want a dog even more but we can't; we have no space and DS would no doubt pull the poor thing apart. Feel guilty though as DS1 and DD would love one.

ShinyHappyStarOfBethlehem · 27/12/2006 17:08

It also made me realise how much more difficult our situation is made by our ability to afford to live someone more suitable, among other things that we can't afford that would make life easier!

Thought it did a very good job at highlighting how these pressures can affect a couples' relationship. Very true.

mummy2aaron · 27/12/2006 19:51

Definately a plus to show the strains it makes on your relationship with dh/dp. I too am constantly tired and dh just doesn't understand that I am not rejecting him I am just knackered.

amyclaire85 · 27/12/2006 21:48

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

RnBee · 27/12/2006 22:18

hmm I really enjoyed this actually. I thought it was well researched and will educate people re autism. And I also didn't think it was too rosy - he obviously improved greatly but he still had loads of problems (the 'don't say' being familiar)

The boy was a great little actor.

I thought all the stuff about the inability to love was generalising things, as has been said many autistic kids are very loving and affectionate.

Dh and I laughed out loud when the boy sat down to a Thomas video - what a familiar thing in our house! Hlarious moment when he called BIL a dickhead!