Feedback sought from caregivers of kids with an ASD and/or intellectual disability

[yungatart]

I am of no help to you, #1, except to say that the young man I work with, who has autism, was, as a year 9 (Form 3) student, difficult, 'strange' and hard work. As a year 13, he is delightful, reasonably well integrated with his peers, accepted and just downright charming.
Patience, boundaries, reasonable expectations and encouragement work wonders!

[riffer]

I am of no help to you, #1, except to say that the young man I work with, who has autism, was, as a year 9 (Form 3) student, difficult, 'strange' and hard work. As a year 13, he is delightful, reasonably well integrated with his peers, accepted and just downright charming.
Patience, boundaries, reasonable expectations and encouragement work wonders!

Exactly Janet. Couldn't have put it better myself. That whole puberty stage is horrifically difficult.

[Paul in NZ]

Exactly Janet. Couldn't have put it better myself. That whole puberty stage is horrifically difficult.

Oh shit - now you tell me. I've got a funny feeling I've signed up for a bit of a suicide mission with these two as it is... Argh!

Oh well - its time I had a new hobby or three. Sadly, bikes might have to go to fund puberty and the extras required when you have additional needs, I never planned on doing that, the bikes were supposed to be my retirement interest.

[Number One]

Thanks for that, iif I wanted to check, where would i go in Aucks? I have many symptoms of aspergers....

Not sure to be honest and I guess the question is...why would you WANT the label now? Will it help you do you think? I think the only way you could go for a diagnosis now would be to pay for it privately...not sure the system gives a crap about adults getting retrospective diagnosis unless they make complete public nuisances of themselves.

placing your happiness into the hands of others approval is not a good plan...

Indeed it is not a good plan however if everywhere you turn you are facing judgement, intolerance and just plan nastiness how does that NOT affect your happiness overall - seems to sure as shit be bothering my little boy right now...despite what we tell him about how those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter.

It's funny to think that we can buld tolerance and acceptance towards black people and it is commonly accepted that we are not to mistreat them because they are black...SO how come society still seems to think it's ok to behave poorly towards people who think or act differently to the thin wedge of members that congregate and belong in 'the normal zone'