Need info on Autism - help please

Polly

My friend has just had confirmation that her 4 year old son has a form of autism. She doesn't have access to the internet and has asked me to find some articles etc to start her off with finding out more about the condition. A google search threw up so much stuff I just didn't know where to start. Can someone please advise on what would be useful for her at this stage. A recommendation of a good book that I could get for her would be useful too. Thanks

magic57

Hi there

Perhaps you could look at the National Autistic Society website. http://www.nas.org.uk/

It is very helpful and she might like to join. I think it's very important she is able to speak to and maybe meet other parents whose children have autism. Sharing concerns always helps.

Good luck.

Mandsmum

There is a forum on Autism/Aspergers on the Raising Kids website
http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/talk/forum_topics.asp?FID=23
Which I have found very useful, although more for support but still very informative.
As above NAS is very helpful they have sub catagories for different areas so if you go into 'NAS across the UK',
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1297
it will give links to branches in different parts of the country so maybe this would give your friend more info on the help/ available to her. I think you can request booklets/literature from them as well.
Did they tell her what kind of ASD he has?If the diagnosis is specific ie Aspergers, it narrows the search criteria down.
Hope this makes sense and helps!

Maysie

It depends really where on the spectrum he is. Autism is such a complex thing and it greatly varies between each individual. Do you have an idea how severe his autism is? Is he speaking yet, is he toilet trained? How frustrated does he get? They said to my sister if he is not toilet trained by 5 he will never be. Bull! he was much later but got there in the end. My nephew is 15 now its hard work on all the family and we get stares in shops when he decides to jump up and down or make funny noises. If its the more noticeable type of autism and she would like to talk to someone who has been there i can put her in touch with my sister?

wornoutmumoftwo

0845 070 4004


This is the number for the NAS Autism helpline.

sarahroo

there are also local support groups which are wonderful.
http://www.autismberkshire.org.uk/
You could also recommend that she reads 'George and Sam' which I found wonderful and illuminating.

Sazzer_2

Polly wrote: »

My friend has just had confirmation that her 4 year old son has a form of autism. She doesn't have access to the internet and has asked me to find some articles etc to start her off with finding out more about the condition. A google search threw up so much stuff I just didn't know where to start. Can someone please advise on what would be useful for her at this stage. A recommendation of a good book that I could get for her would be useful too. Thanks

Hi

There are a million books on the subject a good one to start with is 'Autism Spectrum Disorders' by Chantal Sicile-Kira. It's not too clinical but describes quite well. Also there are a lot of 'real life' books-a lot of them are tales of parents describing life with an autistic kid-lots of funny stories (well your friend will probably identify with them!) naked trampolining at 3am etc etc. (yes I've heard my lad laughing and screeching with delight boinging at 3am-starkers he was)
Anyway good luck to them and hope this helps! x