Cooperhy - my eldest g.,child - a boy, showed early signs of autism, particularly in regard to his total lack of social skills. Was identified and statemented by the age of 5 years old. Managed through primary school (just about) with support.
He always appeared intelligent, but his social skills were just not there in any way. As he was quite a big lad (dad had been a rugby player), he often appeared quite frightening.
Secondary school selected with care by his parents as it had a good SENCO department. Went from bad to worse to disaster within months. By the age of 13 years of age, he was excluded from mixing with any of the other pupils there, and diagnosed as being 'clinically depressed'. The local Education Dept, in one report listed him as 'uneducable'.
However, he was fortunate with his family. Parents fought to get him into a special school for autistic pupils, horrifically expensive (why are these not part of state system?), and he had to go as a weekly boarder as it was too far away. Local Ed. council fought them (due to cost). Parents were prepared to take them to tribunal, and won,.
He went and that school worked their miracle. He learned his own controls, and to understand that other people saw the world differently to him. He knew when to walk out of a room if things were becoming too difficult. Left there at 16 with a good solid bunch of GCSE results.
Went to local college (living at home) for A levels, that they insisted were taken very slowly (just one in the first year), plus work on further improving his social skills. Their SENCO department taught him to how to get public transports, how to go down to the pub, how to join in local groups that were in his interest. How, further, to respect other people. Left there four years later with a B in Maths (first A level he took), and then A's in Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics.
As (or even more) important, also as a lovely, friendly, happy confident young man. Just finishing his first year of a 4-year Masters course in Chemical Studies at the prestigious department in Southampton Uni, where he has come second in his cohort in exams.
He has also appeared as the leader of his student group, and has been the organiser of sorting out a student house for several of them for next year, and also, the one who organised (and won) a battle with the student accommodtion department when they were refusing to do anything about the broken boiler last January - (no hot water or CH).
So, you wanted success stories, so thought you might like this one. At 21 years of age, he is everything one could want in a young man. However, there are still areas where this autism is apparent. He is very touch sensitive, so clothes, duvet covers, etc have to be selected with great care. He always buys seven identical t-shirts to wear, same type,material and colour. One for each day of the week!!! Also noise sensitive. Has, at yet, shown absolutely no sexual interests. Small areas - and do not effect what we can now see will be a happy and successful future, in which he will pay back to society many times the amount spent on those few years of special education.
