Autistic children?

Question

Have just watched as much as I could stand of After Thomas. Do any actors/directors/writers have ANY idea of what it is really like to bring up an autistic child? My wife and I have an autistic daughter (which is unusual because most autistic children are male) who is now 22. She lives with us and always will. We love her passionately and would never dream of sending her to a residential home. She is OURS, not anybody else's. We have her for life. Why on earth is a play put out on Boxing Day about an autistic boy? People with 'normal' children will never understand it. Is it supposed to be Christmas entertainment? I curse all the people involved with this stupid play. Go and work 24/7 with autistic children/adults - don't do it as an acting project, just DO IT. I am so angry with all the people who make autism 'interesting' and a subject for incredibly inaccurate TV. STOP DOING IT. I bet NONE of you have any first hand experience of years of bring up an autistic person.

Answer 1

Wow!

You're angry! Angry angry angry! Nasty TV company!

Why don't you write to the TV company in question and ask for an explanation?

Answer 2

You do have to keep in mind that not every family's experience with an autistic child is the same. I taught autistic children for a while, and saw a wide variety of behaviors and symptoms, not to mention all the parents. Your daughter is lucky to have a family who loves her and can care for her. I saw several parents who refused to participate in caring for their children, some who simply didn't understand that this child was different and some who blamed early childhood behaviors that are, in fact, perfectly 'normal' on autism and it just tore her up when even were he not autistic he probably would have still eaten Play Doh, he's 3!
Personally, even though I'm out of teaching and have nothing to do with autsitic children, I still find autism interesting. A lot of people have a fascination with it as more and more children are diagnosed with autism. A great number of disorders and illnesses are portrayed in the media inaccuratly. But the fact that they get any exposure at all and that people are aware is a step in the right direction.

Answer 3

Im Autistic myself, I am High Functioning though as you can tell, ok I don't have a Driver's Liscense but I have managed to pull off all sorts of stuff such as going to concerts, performing Music gigs and even running for Local Office.

Ok I probably have not seen all movies and shows with Autistic characters but I do gotta say that I do wish some people would realize that each Autie is different and while I was amazed to an extent about the movie Rainman, if one did sit down and watch it with me I could point out exactly what descriptions do and don't fit me.

For instance I am good with dates of events (I have my Family Tree traced back pretty far as well).

But I handle Walk Don't Walk better than Rainman does.

Ya know what I would like to see next time there is a film made about someone with Autism, I would like to see an Autistic person play the character, I could do that myself since I am Autistic.

And if you're gonna have a Non-Autie play an Autie in a film then hire an Autistic person to be a Technical Advisor on the film, I could do that job.

Of all Autistic characters I have seen on TV shows and Movies the character that did fit me the most was an Autistic girl on an X-Files episode that was written by Stephen King.

I was major impressed with that character cause she did remind me of myself as a child.

I do find it crazy not only that so many Films and shows do have inaccuracies with Autistic characters but a lot of people in the General Public tend to think that all Auties act like this or that character and im like why don't they talk to someone who has Autism or talk to a Parent of an Autie.

Answer 4

I am sorry i didn't see the tv programe , but i am a childcare officer and look after autistic children in a residential school , i think the parents who send their children there are very brave it cant be an easy decision to make, there is such a wide spectrum in autism and those at the lower end are very challanging ... ... You are right i do not know what its like to raise an autistic child as i can return home afterwork ... I can only imagine how hard it must be for you.

Answer 5

With an autistic brother i know how you feel.
I truly believe that TV companies try to put across 'some' of what the families go through.
They cannot get across everything though, if they did the censors wouldn't allow it to be shown! so they work in generalisations rather than specifics.

'If the routine gets upset the child reacts THIS way (most of the time)'

I have not seen the program you refer to but, write to the production company or the network and CALMLY put forward your views. believe it or not they will listen to you and maybe even devise another program to show some of the truth and facts about living with Autism.
I applaud the way that even with an autistic daughter you manage to be able to sit down and watch a program that dramatises the condition.
Its difficult enough to live day to day without letting these people get under your skin.
All I can say is keep doing the obviously excellent job you are doing with your daughter and find a way to vent your frustration and anger safely.
Good luck for the future

Answer 6

I am feeling your reaction to sociaty and the nieve view that people assume about autism. I am a 26-year-old single mother with a son who is 5-years-old. And yes, he is autistic. He however is very high functioning, and at times you wonder, "Maybe he isn't, " but if you stick around for a bit more he will resolve that thought for you.
I hate that people really have no clue. I have been asked, if I did drugs while I was pregnant, amongst other rude and very personal questions that are just tacky.
Thank God that Bush just signed the budget for research on autism! Maybe they will start spending money on educationg people as well. Our children already feel different from everyone else. They don't need to be treated like it too.

Answer 7

It was definitely very hard-hitting for my family and the family of many MANY people who I know and I found it very realistic. Except for the dog, since my youngest brother is petrified of dogs, it was reminiscent of a lot of what has happened in my family. You have to remember the spectrum is VERY wide and what you go through with your daughter is not necessarily what others go through. I also think the timing was actually pretty good, at this time of year people need to remember that not everybody has the cosy, happy, "normal" family and although the programme didn't actually show Christmas (as far as I remember), it showed what it is like at other times, letting people only imagine what Christmas is like when it's very difficult in a "normal" family! They don't have to understand it, as long as they know that not every child they see in the street having a "tantrum" is just badly behaved, that is DEFINITELY a good thing. Even at 5 I said what the mother said about staring at handicapped children and asked people what their excuse for having no manners was. The family have praised it - surely that means that YES they had the right idea in what is is like to bring up an autistic child in that area of the spectrum with those problems?

Answer 8

These sort of programs can never tell what it is truly like to live with demanding people such as those with autism. All my children have autistic spectrum disorders, (2 boys 1 girl), yes life can be difficult but if programs such as this are never aired then ignorance will prevail. There is much more understanding about these things than there ever used to be.
Remember understanding comes in stages. All people are individuals, including those with problems like autism, it is obviously impossible to show all aspects of autism on TV, as to do so would mean showing all people who have this problem, myself included.
I did not watch this program myself, but would simply like remind anybody who did, all people who have autistic spectrum disorders are individuals and you would be totally unaware that many have a problem of this kind at all, they though have to cope with it.

Answer 9

most of us have never had to raise an austistic child but i have spent a great deal of time with someone with autism. one of my friends has an autistic son. and i haven't seen whatever play you are talking about but autism is something that needs to be brought to people's attention. the fact is that thru education sometimes thru movies, tv and plays the public is coming to recognize the signs and symptoms of autism. before, most children were institutionalized, now different therapy is helping every day life become easier for families that would have otherwise been alone in the dark.

i don't understand why you are so angry but i hope you will think about the people who may see the play you saw and recognize autism as something that can be coped with and may one day have a cure.

Answer 10

Nobody can understand what it's like bringing up a child with disabilities unless it's them or they have hands on experience.

I do sympathise with what you are saying and can understand your frustrations as my best friend has a disabled son.and I have seen her struggle for years with very little help.

God bless you for your patience and persistance,I wish you and your son well.

Hopefully some day they may find a new drug that will help people affected with autism like your son.

Answer 11

this was not a stupid play it was based on a true story .the more people who are aware of autism the better.yes you may have your daughter for the rest of your life but what about the rest of hers. yes i do have years of experience with my son who has a disability