Autistic Me - Catch Up

[time4chocolate]

HI Everyone - this may have already been posted but, incase not I just noticed that there is a follow up on the Autustic Me television documentary that was shown a few months ago. It focuses on the three lads one year on BBC 3 9.00pm. Thought it might be of interest to a lot of people, especially those who saw the first documentary.

I don't know if I'll get to watch it then, since the Leaders' debate is on at the same time and I have the recorder already set, but it's also on around midnight-ish, so I'll be recording it, then.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the lads are doing.

Thank you, i will record it .

I wish they'd done a wider range of individuals, but it's still good to know there's a follow-up Thanks!

I think there's a whole series of programmes around autism on BBC3 during May, so worth watching out for.

I will watch with interest, remember seeing the first show with these young men in and really feeling for them. (DS has HFA.)

Wonder how the younger teen with blond hair is doing, I remember at the end of the last show he moved into a residential place.

Did anyone watch this last night? and if so what did you think?

I watched last years and then last nights.

Along with the Autistic and stagestruck shows i have now watched 3 autism related shows in a fortnight, and had DS's statement arrive and been discussing the pros andcons of special schools. In hindsight I am too emotional to be watching.

I felt realy pleased that youngest of te three finally settled in at college and made a friend/started a band, was so pleased to hear his mum say how proud she was of him.

Felt very sad for the guy trying to find work, really frustrated on his behalf. Was pleased to see he was becoming more independent from his parents though.

The guy who had a permanent job and a blossoming relationship, I was left feeling the same if not more so, than I was when I watched last years show. His mother actually came out and said that she wouldn't want him to live independently as she didn't want to live alone, which seemed a shame I thought as he seemed the most functioning of the three.

I am finding these shows compelling viewing even though they leave me in tears.

What did you think Marne?? I know one of your DD's often sounds very similar to my DS (toilet issues and so on). What did you make of the show?

The youngest lad (can' remember his name), i felt kind of sorry for him, it upset dh and i when his mother was saying 'how he will never get on in life' and how he could not look after himself or cook, i just felt that she should not have said those things in front of a teen with Autism and no confidence in himself (i have a 17 year old step son who can not cook, i'm sure most teens can't cook), i was so pleased he proved his mum wrong.

The poor man looking for a job, i felt like phoning up Asda and giving them what for.

I really liked watching the lad with his girlfriend i just hope his mum can learn to let go a bit.

I enjoy watching these programs, Young autistic and stage struck is great, they show a wider range of people on the spectrum and i can see parts of my dd's in a couple of them, the way Mollie pinched some food last week is the sort of thing my dd2 does, the way Ben talks about his feelings is just like dd1. It makes you realize how different each child on the spectrum is.

Dh isn't so keen on watching as he is worried what the future will be like for the dd's and how they will turn out. I will be proud of my dd's however they turn out but it does worry me about the way they will be treated by people who have not got a clue about Autism .

That was why I was pleased she eventually said she was proud of him Marne (the 16 yr old), I too was really mad at her putting him down like that - but then maybe she knew he would dig his heels and want to be contrary? I know my DS it would leave him heartbroken and despondent, he has very low self esteem and confidence and would rather just not try to do things (like the girl on stagestruck).

Yes, ASDA definately need a boot up their arse as telling a person with autism they have a job then leaving them hanging on for months is just cruel when you know they take things literally (am assuming whoever told him this lacked understanding of how he would process the verbal discussion).

Yes, I worry for DS for the future too but make a big effort to be positive and show him how proud I am of him.