ASD / Aspergers Support Thread Part II

Indie_Kid

Oh, yes please do let us know how she gets on!

I, like J, did try when I was younger. (I was 20 when I was started) which was before my diagnosis. I had some many problems. I had no interest in the social side of uni. I ended up with quite severe depression (in part, that was how I ended up with a diagnosis) and struggled a lot with the work.

We had to be quite independent and I couldn't always understand the work. I hated the lectures because of how many people there were, too.

I dropped out of the first year. I decided it was easier to complete first year and then decide not to go back. Looking back now, I'm not sure that was the best idea.

I am not sure if I want to restart my uni education again. I have this habit of being interested in something and when it gets too hard, I lose interest. Ditto if it's too easy...

seven-day-weekend

J also got diagnosed because of her problems with Uni, she has a huge long report from an Ed Psych.

seven-day-weekend

Update for Indie Kid and anyone else who is interested:

J is enjoying her course so far and has been allocated a scribe from her Disabled Students' Grant (I think it's called) to help her with her written work.

She hates the Shuttle Bus (too many noisy people) - I've told her to get some headphones and play something like rainfall or whale noises).

She has had an interview for a job working in the Student Union coffee bar.

She has also done a few shifts in her old job and has been in a starring role in an Agatha Christie play with her old Drama group.

My son asks her every night if she has any work or anything else to do for Uni before she goes again, so that she doesn't get distracted and off task.

She has some written assignments but they are not due in yet.

She has remembered to get a form saying she is a full-time student for Council Tax and they will be getting a 25% discount

Early days, but good so far!

Indie_Kid

Thanks for the update.

I had a note taker / scribe too. But I was able to use mine for help with reading, etc.

Indie_Kid

The last few weeks have shall we say, been quite dfficult:
Some of you may remember last year (I think!) me posting something. I'd taken a friends comment completely the wrong way and thought he was insulting me, he explained this wasn't the case and explained what he really meant.

Anyway, we'd arranged something and it turns out that I'd managed to completely misunderstand what he was talking about. It had gotten to the stage where I did wonder whether he'd worked out that something wasn't quite right.

I decided that I had no choice but to email him. I ended up explaining that I have Autism. Now, he's quite a bit older than me and grew up when Autism wasn't that well known. (He retired from teaching when it was starting to become a bit more well known) Unknown to me, he has (or had) a friend whose child has Autism and doesn't speak. I explained that because of this, my understanding of language isn't always how he may have intended, which explains my reaction to something he said last year.

We ended up talking. He told me that he was aware that I have some problems communicating and did give some advice. (He taught Communication at A Level)

I now have to decide whether I go to the festival he invited me to. I am not too keen on crowds or noise. But it's impossible to predict what I will be like. I will be in a strange place and can't just go home if I've decided I've had enough.

kingfisherblue

It's good to see you back Indie Kid. I'm glad you were able to explain to your friend.


It's been a while since I saw any of your posts, and since then, my younger son has been to CAMHS (again!) with depression. A few years ago, I asked if he had Asperger's but was told definitely not. CAMHS have now said that he almost certainly has AS, and he will see a paediatrician about this. We got the appointment through today - it's not until July! In the meantime, he is also having knee problems, and indications so far are pointing towards juvenile arthritis. His next appointment about that is early April, when I think we will receive a definite diagnosis based on test results (MRI).


I've always had a lot going on, as my older son has had multiple disabilities from birth, but now there is so much more. Satisfying to get some answers though!

Indie_Kid

Thanks.

I do hope it's good news for your son.

I think I mentioned that before my diagnosis, I was diagnosed with depression. Having talked to a few friends of mine, it's not that unusual. As a female, my symptoms are generally different to that of a male on the spectrum.

My friend did mention it when we met up last week and I found that rather awkward to say the least. I was not expecting him to say anything at all.

And now, I have to decide whether I go to a friends wedding. Someone has suggested I just go to the ceremony and and not bother going to the party after. I don't like crowds and noise can be quite painful.

Savvy_Sue

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I now have to decide whether I go to the festival he invited me to. I am not too keen on crowds or noise. But it's impossible to predict what I will be like. I will be in a strange place and can't just go home if I've decided I've had enough.

But you'll be with someone: do you trust him to understand / take care of you if you feel you've had enough / aren't coping?

Indie_Kid wrote: »

And now, I have to decide whether I go to a friends wedding. Someone has suggested I just go to the ceremony and and not bother going to the party after. I don't like crowds and noise can be quite painful.

Could use that as a trial run? But also, I'm doing exactly that for a colleague, as I did for another colleague last year. I won't enjoy the party, the important part to me is the ceremony, so I will be there to show my support.

Indie_Kid

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But you'll be with someone: do you trust him to understand / take care of you if you feel you've had enough / aren't coping?

Yes. He did say, I think that he doesn't do the whole festival either. And it'll be my first festival too.

Could use that as a trial run? But also, I'm doing exactly that for a colleague, as I did for another colleague last year. I won't enjoy the party, the important part to me is the ceremony, so I will be there to show my support.

I have talked to my friend. I did explain that I'd go to the ceremony; but won't go to the evening thing, which she is fine with. Her soon to be husband sounded as though he was trying to get out of the wedding by hoping there was a bowls touranment on that day.:rotfl:

charliewocka

Hi everyone,


I just thought I would say hello in here. My brother is 25 and got an Asperger's diagnosis last year (we moved to the UK and after me calling social services in tears at not being able to cope we got referred to the community mental health team who arranged for an assessment). My brother lives with me and so I am his primary carer/supporter. He has come on a lot since diagnosis which is great but it's still tough and I feel for him as he gets very confused by what being on the spectrum means.


My brother suffers from fixations, cognitive impairment and communication issues. He volunteers in a local charity shop which is great, and he works part time in LEGOLAND who are great as employers. We finally managed to get him to learn to drive this year so he is on lesson 8 and we found a driving instructor who specialises in teaching those with neurological conditions.


We have a lot of issues still with many things but each small step is a step in the right direction I guess. Sometimes when I get frustrated I look back to the progress he ahs made in the past couple of years and have to take the positive instead.


I'll try to call in here every now and then for a look see as I'm sure I will get some great advice and viewpoints from those who suffer from the condition and those who care for someone.