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If you have an interest in autism
Dovefromabove
Posts: 88,140
I know some of us have a connection with people with autism - if you didn't hear this http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05sttjh do try to spare 15 minutes to listen to this - he's got it spot on ... bless him.
And if you've never been to a Special School Disco, you'll find out what you've missed. I've been to a few .......... just the best time 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Absolutely, Dove.
Plus the sense of humour surrounding the horrors of our help system makes me wanrt to do something.....not sure what....
Hope this doesn't sound odd/patronising, but I find autism a fascinating condition - I have met so many people who live their lives on various parts of that spectrum and whose abilities and life experiences are incredibly varied.
After I'd been with Children's Services for a while, I worked mainly with children and young people at the most severe end of the spectrum, usually non-verbal, with severe LD and possibly at least one other condition. I also volunteered at a youth club for youngsters with severe learning and physical disabilities which was run by this organisation http://thehamletcharity.org.uk/home/
Absolutely inspirational as well as being great fun!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It's been my job as well.
The lack of understanding of, or acceptance by, a large number of the general public is beyond belief.
That's for autism or anything else a bit different.
Is that from fear? a feeling of suoeriority?
I don't know
In the sticks near Peterborough
I guess that's right Jo. Some have a very narrow comfort zone
In the sticks near Peterborough
I think that educational and children's services have been pared down to the bone so that professionals have very little time to give to individual needs. The pressure for measurable outcomes in schools has virtually destroyed a whole area of teaching. I don't mean that academic progress is unimportant, but a child is more than the sum of its GCSE's. Jo's right, too. We don't know how to cope with people who do not fit into a predictable box and we don't seem ready to give them space and time to be whoever they are. There's a lot of talk about individual development but society prefers everyone to develop in pretty much the same way. Sorry, I've had my little rant, now....