Autism

[Uncle Remus]

Well it has been a while since I have posted here on UD. I have mostly been just reading the topics. One of the topics I have noticed lately was the "Great Mouse Detective sequel" topic. I remember reading Disneykid's post about the one who started the topic and how she has autism. Now this leads me to a question that I want to ask here.

Personally I would like to know how people here have autism or know someone in their life who has autism. I'm not sure if anyone else here knows this but I have Asperger's Syndrome (also known as High-Functioning Autism). Since I was very young, my family knew I had autism. It was before I entered middle school when my family and I found out that I have Asperger's. It was later when I did research that I found other famous people who have or might have Asperger's such as Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates (well at least that is what other website have said. this statement might not be true.)

So once again I ask if anyone here has autism or knows someone in their life who has autism.

(For those who don't know much about autism, here is an article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

[Teede]

Are you guys talking about me?

[pinkrenata]

Are you guys talking about me?

As you can clearly read from the post above, Uncle Remus is talking about himself. Not you.

[Wonderlicious]

Are you guys talking about me?

Not you in particular; Uncle Remus was only branching off on someone else's remarks in a topic you started and is now starting a full discussion on the topic of autism. He isn't talking about you (or at least I think not).

Back on topic, I don't think I know anybody who has autism. I know one or two people in my school may have it, but I don't personally know them.

EDIT: Teh Renata types faster than me.

[Fee-Hee-Hee-Eny]

Thanks for posting, Uncle Remus, I had no idea that this was until now. I don't know anyone personally that has it, but I do remember seeing someone on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition having it. But of course, I thought it meant he was deaf.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

*post deleted*

[RJKD23]

My summer job will be working with kids who have autism.
Well, the company is going to 1:1 me with a student who has it..and I'd progress from there.
A career I'm leaning to in the future..perhaps?

Timon/Pumba fan & Uncle Remus, that's good news to hear!

[Uncle Remus]

Oh I know I guy who had autism! It's me! I used to have autism when I was little. So that meant I couldn't talk very well until I was 3, and I had problems looking at people in the eye and learned a bit slowly. Well than I didn't have it anymore when I was six, today I don't have autism anymore! So Uncle Remus you aren't alone on having a history of autism!

Well that's good to hear. I also do not autism anymore. It was during middle school when I lost my autistic trait and became "normal" One thing I don't like right now is how some people believe that autism can be cured by medication or was started by medication. I think that it is impossible to cure someone from autism. Some people like Timon/Pumbaa fan and I might lose the autistic traits during the early years of life. Others might have to live with autism for the rest of their lives. Autism is just autism. It isn't a desease or something that can cause a person to die. Autism is just a way that some people act and I hope the world can just understand it and get use to it.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

*post deleted*

[PatrickvD]

when I was a really small tiny little pre schooler, this kid with autism would follow me around all day. Apparently I was the only one at the daycare he was willing to connect to... freaked me out

[sCArs]

I have ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) I am a higher functioning ASD person apparently, but I don't have the social skills AT ALL lol

[chaychay102royal]

I don't have autism and I don't know anybody with it either. Sorry.

[my chicken is infected]

One of my college teachers, in addition to a few family members, are convinced I have Asperger's. After doing some research, I think so too.

[Sunset Girl]

I believe it's good to bring these issues out into the open. I mean, I think these kinds of problems are more common than we might realize because people like to sweep them under the rug.

I've actually dealt with an autistic child in my line of work, and I was only able to catch a glimpse of the challenges one has to face every day. But we all have problems, right? I have a good friend with a sleeping disorder and another one with extreme social anxiety issues. And as for myself, I lie more in the clinically depressed area and have had to face the demons of a relatively rough childhood.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that in the end, we all have issues and personal demons to deal with, but at least that helps us relate to one another as human beings. And perhaps because of it we can find better appreciation for the gifts we are given in life?

At any rate, I'm glad this was thread was started in an effort to raise awareness of something the general public seems to know little about. Thanks, Uncle Remus!

[chaychay102royal]

Very good and interesting points, Sunset Girl.

[tomothy81]

I think it is interesting that you can outgrow Autism, I had no idea. I thought that once you had Autism you had to live with it for the remainder of your life.

Thanks for educating me a little on the topic.

[Kenai]

I work in an enviorment with an autisitc child. He's a tough one, most of the time when he gets to get the class is spent on how to descalate him. He tends to fixate himself on his favorite objects.

I feel for the parents whose little ones have this.

[Glen_J]

My eldest son Liam has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.

His speech was very delayed and we had his hearing tested thinking that he may have had problems with his hearing. Hearing tests came back fine.

We were then put into contact with a pediatrician who studied him and told us about Autism and this thing called Asperger Syndrome. He was about 4 and a half at this point. He didn't diagnose him he just asked us to monitor him and try to put a strong routine into his day to day life and get some speech therapy.

When he was 6 and in school he had some problems with being bullied however he would'nt tell us about this. He was coming home blck and blue with bruises. However his other behavior told us something was wrong. He would lay on the stairs banging his head on th steps, would cover his eyes when things got too much. He would put his hands into fists and hit his head. This was his way of showing us he was get severely stressed out. They were basically anxiety attacks.

The last straw was when he was about 6 and a half, he was in the bath , had reached the end of his rope and started hitting himself on the head an repeating over and over "I want to kill myself, I want to kill myself."

When he had calmed down a bit later I asked him if he knew what he meant when he was saying he wanted to kill himself. He said "that if he killed himself he could go to heaven and he wouldn't be sad anymore."

At home things were pretty good because of the routine and usunderstanding his ways but at school, and it was a big school, he couldn't cope with the social side of things. We took him out of that school and he went to a special school with an Autistic class where they were able to help build his confidence again and give him the "toolbox" of things that he could learn and do when he was in situations where he would feel himself becoming stressed or unsure. He is now back in a normal mainstream school, albeit a much smaller one than he was originally at, and he's nearly 9 now and doing great.

I don't think a person can ever stop having or grow out of Autism or Asperger syndrome but I do think that people suffering from it learn to adapt in situations that are difficult for them. It can be very stressful for them but they learn how to cope.

If you like to read more there's a very respected Australian doctor and his website is fantastic for resources, papers and general info.
http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/

Glen J

[sCArs]

My Mum has gone to some of Tony Attwoods seminars, he's very good

My story:

I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome (They refer to it as Autistic Spectrum Disorder now) when I was 7, my always parents knew I was different. I hated being touched (and still do), I had no imagination at all, I can't really explain it (my parents probably could better lol). I also have Tourettes, but it's gotten a lot better now (I used to make clicking noises repeatedly, I just occasionally have the urge to grab someone and squeeze their arm, I have no idea why ), and I suffer from agoraphobia and severe anxiety (which to me is a part of my ASD). My social skills are very limited (my brothers and sisters compare me to Voilet from The Incredibles). I mentally developed apparently above normal I guess (I was very bright, don't consider it anymore) and I am good at learning languages. Change is a big thing for me. I need a routine to go around, otherwise I have no idea what to do. I hate flourescent lights and how they flicker and hum, it gives me headaches >.< Out of the 5 kids in my family (including me), we all have ASD. If it isn't herdetary (sp), that sure is a coincidence huh? Sorry if this has been very random and doesn't make sense, it's hard to write about yourself lol

Edit: I don't think ASD is something you can just grow out of, it may be controlled to a certain extent but it will always be there.

[Disney Guru]

Yes that is an extremely serious illness. I have a niece who has it.