The "A" Word

I avoided it until I'd heard what the autism community thought of it. Having worked in this field for decades I was wary of ASD being used as entertainment. It might be OK. Will wait and see.

I'm hesitant to comment too as I know so little about the autistic spectrum.

I thought it was well-acted, and it was interesting that Joe's parents were trying so hard to convince themselves that he was just a bit 'quirky'. Will keep watching to see how it develops.

I watched it.

We used to wonder whether our son was somewhere on the spectrum. I realise now, he isn't. No way. Thank the Lord.

Yes. It's doing a good job. (Could other parents really be that cruel - not inviting him to whole class parties?)

Good little actor. Aren't these kids great?!

Jane10 from what I have read it was based on something written by someone with experience of the subject. (Sorry to be so vague) Well reviewed by those involved in autism, as far as I'm aware, but could be wrong.

There is an article about it in the Radio Times which gives further info, as yet haven't mastered how to do links from this thing, sorry!

We watched it and found it very stereotypical. I have 2 and probably 3 DGS's on the spectrum. DGS 1 has been diagnosed as having Asperger's, DGS 2 is awaiting diagnosis of high functioning autism and DGS 3 is just like his big brother! We wondered where the "meltdowns" were and why there was no humour associated with the little boy. My DGS's can be really funny, especially no. 1 as he has a huge vocabulary, and uses words appropriately, and comes out with the most marvellous sayings. He has ear defenders, but only uses them in extreme situations. I think that people forget that autism is a spectrum disorder and no child is the same as the next one, just as in the neurotypical population.

I watched this with interest, as our DGS's teacher told DD that he was possibly "on the very edge of the spectrum". Thankfully he is nothing like the little boy in the programme, although I sort of get where he's coming from (the teacher that is). I did enjoy it though.

here it is

Here's a snippet of life with a 7 yr old Aspie.
Out with mum and siblings, plus another family of friends, on passing Waitrose DGS 1 decided they should go in for chocolate. When mum said no, he marched off down a very busy high street shouting "Waitrose, Waitrose mummy is an a**eh**e, at the top of his voice! He was studiously ignored until it passed!

I hope that in my op I acknowledged that Autism has many levels, and of course this particular programme will not reflect all of that, after all it is a drama, not a documentary, but I found it engaging and will be watching the next episode.

All the things that Hilda says.Having a high functioning autistic grandson in our lives and seeing his classmates etc you realise that there isn't an 'autistic person' unlike all broken legs are broken legs, all autistic children and adults are different.My DGS still has screaming meltdowns ( not as often as they used to be) but has a sense of humour, a great vocabulary and also shows real perception, he also still sees nothing wrong in running around in the buff (inside our house) after a bath, and has to be caught to put pyjamas on, will not wipe his own bottom, and only came out of nappies when he was seven. He is eleven now.

I have recorded it to watch, but think I won't like it ( could be wrong , often are, ) as you say Phoenix.

I haven't watched it yet, but a young friend with an autistic son has asked her friends if anyone would like to watch it as it could give people more understanding of her son - who is lovely and quirky and has been diagnosed on the autistic spectrum.

But children are always bright in these programmes, with special talents. This isn't always the case. Many have severe or moderate learning difficulties.

What I thought was good was how hard the family found accepting the boys special needs. He is bright enough to be in mainstream with support, especially as he is so young.

Am watching now, about the man with Tourettes.Amazingly, he was not like that at all when they married and a while after. So it's obviously something that can just occur with the brain.Poor man, it's awful, his brain just racing
And so anxious.

I think Tourettes must be the worst thing in the autistic spectrum.

Ah, he did always have Tourettes, but very low level and he used to be able to control it.I did think that was odd, his wife saying he used to be fine.

I'm watching that too, roses. It's hard to see what sort of job he or the other young man could actually do successfully. So hard, as they both really want to work.

Yes, the young man seeing the specialist is so nice and so sad, but why was his autism only diagnosed four years ago?

His piano playing was lovely.

The specialist treated him as an intelligent human being.

Which he is.

And now we see his hidden talents, after they first presented him as a hopeless case...that's TV for you

In our adult ASD diagnostic team the average age of referral was 38. Oldest referred was 84. Virtually all of them said they wished they'd been diagnosed earlier. Children's services either seem to hesitate to 'label' children or don't have the skills to diagnose the subtler cases or - och I could go on about this forever! Must shut up.