Young,Autistic and Stagestruck.

[LetThereBeRock]

Will anyone be watching this documentary? It's on Channel 4 at 8.

really enjoying this programme - i love andrew what a lovely young man he is - so sweet the way he is with claire - his parents seem so nice and understanding.
i like jack too - bless him it must be miserable to be so negative ,my ds watched this with me and enjoyed it too.

Really enjoying this. Andrew is just brilliant and so much like ds and I think it shines through how sensitively he is parented.
Found the scenes with Mollie uncomfortable and felt that it is possibly her mother who is stagestruck as she seems to want the limelight (look at the facebook page)
Felt uncomfortable watching the teddies scene because it felt like Mollie was being goaded to "perform" for the cameras so that her mother could show how difficult she was and what a saint she must be to put up with it.
Didn't add up that you would put your child through so much stress to move some teddies that had obviously been there months whilst the cameras were there with no warning or negotiation when you parent an autistic child daily and know the likely reactions.
Hated her asking Mollie if she loved her when Mollie obviously wanted some space and didn't understand why she'd need to ask?
Hope we get to see more of the others this next week and less of Sabina. Intrigued by the girl with the curly hair is that Lea and want to know nore about Claire as she appears so able and is obviously a talented musician as well as stunning.

have you got a link to the facebook page ?

[http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=208808150375&ref=search&sid=100000471965270.97976 4205..1]] think this is the link but I'm not very good at them

www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=208808150375&ref=search&sid=100000471965270.979764205..1 think this is the link but I'm not very good at them as previous post just illustrated

I really have to talk to DD1 about getting rid of toys and mainly get round it by saying we will sell on ebay/carboot ect and she can put it towards whatever is her obbession that week
I think its hard as editing can make things seem so untrue to the whole situation tbh, we dont know if Mollie had been prepared for it, and i found it hard watching as she reminds me of dd1 and so many other girls i know like her.
Cant see FB page atm as FB is playing up what did it say?

Just that the page is more about Sabina than the show itself and really vitriolic attacks on somebody who questioned whether Mollie could have been handled better with regard to the teddies.Even going so far as to threatening legal action
Also Sabina is offering to email copies of DLA claims and advising people to submit them as their own to guarantee hr care and mobility. No mention though that in doing so claimant would be committing fraud and actions such as this will make DWP look even less favourably on genuine claims from carers of ASD children
Seems quite taken with her "celebrity" status which I find a bit distasteful tbh.
Oh well still enjoying the show and won't look at the facebook page again

oh dear thats not good
Cant see link its not working.
DLA forms are a real PITA especially for ASD and it was suggested to me countless times I should fudge the truth and lie and tell them I wake with DD1 countless times. I didnt do that, and gave them the truth and very glad I did as we had to go all the way to tribunal for it, and i suck at lying.

Oh well, Im still loving the show and think we can all see faults in others Im sure others could certainly handle DD1 better than me some days

Oh the irony - I missed the first ten minutes of the show tonight (which dealt with Joe soiling himself in a rehearsal) because I was clearing up poo in DS2's bedroom .

I came down just as the cast members and director were discussing what had happened.
DS1 (8) turned to me and said 'They obviously don't live our life do they Mum? What a load of fuss - it's only a bit of poo'
I love DS1 .

you didnt miss much tbh. He poohed in the chaor, said he done it and they left

MUm was saying he needs meds to help him go and he holds onto it.

Andrew's dad is sweet but his mum is awful! Okay it must be hard to come to terms with his condition even 17 years after he was born but she has pretty much said she can't stand him the way he is, she doesn't seem loving at all, she's just putting up with him. If someone said they'd take him off her and the dad had died or left them (god forbid), she'd gladly hand him over.

She KNOWS he probably will never drive a car, her sitting there trying to force him to have lessons just because she wants him to because his older brother did, that's just emotional torture. She spoke to him like she didn't know he had autism. When he said "I'm not old enough" (because he is aware he is not mentally ready for something like that and that there is a big gap between him and his parents) she just kept saying "yes you are, yes you are".

That doesn't help him.

Andrew I find it to be the sweetest out of all the kids (though I love them all) but I was really offended by his mum in the second episode.

I can feel sympathy for Andrew's mum tbh Having a son 15 I don't think that it's that she hasn't accepted the autism it's that she would like him to have the same opportunities as his older siblings.
My ds is very much like Andrew and I think I am realistic in my expectations for him but it doesn't mean that I don't wish that his life could be more on par with his brothers.
Trouble is he talks well and obviously has some teenage desires and I think that makes it hard for a parent to grasp where his limits lie.
I remember when ds was small I used to think if he could talk it would be the answer to his difficulties. Well he got to seven learnt to talk and I realised that the only difference it made was that he could demand what he wanted it didn't really solve anything else.
Only today dh has been talking about him going to work and having a girlfriend. He doesn't seem to grasp that ds's need for constant 1 to 1 support, his inability to go anywhere unaccompanied and his lack of desire to talk or interact could have a huge impact on his life in the future. Because he has normal intelligence and some ability with numbers and ICT he assumes that he will use these skills to secure employment

honey, i have to disagree, she was being hhonest with him by saying he was old enough. Just because your children cant do thinks doesnt mean you dont wish it for them or hope.
TBH I think both Andrews parents do a wonderful job but maybe mum needs to loosen her reighs slightly. But TBH if your not living it, its hard to comment imo

I missed the third episode so I don't want to read the last bit of this thread.
I tried to watch it on 4od but the 3rd episode is not there. Does anyone know how long it takes for the episode to appear?

Ah, just watched it on 4od. I'm really enjoying this series and it is interesting to see how different all the children are.

The girl with the curly hair (I'm not sure of her name) hasn't had much attention from the programme, I'd really like to know more about her.

Anyone watching tonight?

It's the last show.

I have followed the ups and downs of the cast since the first episode.

I take my hat off to those of you on here who has a child with Autism, I really do. I don't want that to come accross as patronising, but, what you guys have to go thru every day..... (I know there are different levels, but, still)

I really don't like that teacher at all, she seems to have very little patience and understanding with the children. Maybe it's just bad tv editing??

I can't wait to see the performance and hope the children all shine (sure they will) and put Miss impatient in her place.

WELL DONE GUYS!

That was FANTASTIC

I'm so pleased it went well.

wonderful wish I could have seen the show in full. TBH the teacher has more understanding than everyday people and more patience than me some days

just watched last nights.

Congratulations all. What an achievement.

DD2 has also enjoyed this - I think it's done her good and given her a lot of insight into why she is the way she is.

loved it just watched back on channel 4 od i even cried at the end - did think mollies mum was a bit of an attention seeker but actually i think she just wants to get people to understand more about the condition

I have watched all 4 episodes of this programme and I have been extremely impressed. The show which only had 3 hrs in total to try and sum-up autism and the potential that young people on the spectrum was great. I myself was diagnosed with Aspergers at the age of 10 and a half, which suddenly explained a lot for my mum. I have spent the last 6 odd years working in education specialising in ASD's and behaviour. I am now studying to become a paediatric nurse at university. Like myself this amazing group of young people have been able to challenge perceptions of autism. Many people, including professionals jump to conclusions and assume that because a child has a specific label they must do X,Y and Z. I am not debating that autism causes young people and their families issues, some which are extremely stressful, but wasn't it amazing to see young people on the spectrum showing empathy, making friends and supporting each other.
Each of them are a credit to their parents hard work and investment in them, because I know for a fact that if it were not for my mum I would'nt be where I am now.
Each and everyone of those young people should be so proud of themselves, because as a fellow autist I am extremely proud of the work they have done to broaden the minds of what is a quite closed minded society, who freak when something doesn't conform to their norms.
The other thing I liked about the show was that it was based around drama, which I must say is one of my favourite pastimes from my school and college years. It is amazing how one can come on so far in communication, confidence and self esteem through expressive arts such as singing, dance and drama, isn't it?
And now to my last point else you will all get migraines from the length of this message. I have been trawling the internet for support groups for young people on the spectrum and have found '0' There are more for parents than I have had hot dinners this year, but none for children and young people, so I have recently created a web forum for young people on the spectrum. The layout is such that the forum is split into 2 parts, 13+ and under 13's.The 13's plus section is viewable to all, but only members can post. These posts are then checked on a bi-daily basis and anything not suitable is removed. The under 13's forum is slightly different due to child protection and COPPA guidelines. Children registering will have to get a parent to fill out a form to give them permission to have an active profile page. Only under 13's will be able to post, but parents may contact the administration team(me)to obtain a special login, which allows them to view and report posts, but not reply to or start posts. In any instance the report function won't be needed as all posts in this forum will be moderated prior to appearing on the wall.

Please would people visit the site and respond to my poll.

www.asdkids.org.uk

Click on Anouncements and News and the poll is the only post currently (sticky)

Hey even better if your a young person on the spectrum, why not join? Myself and my team of moderators look forward to hearing from you.