Hopefully we will be able to make this international at a later date

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The characteristics of Asperger syndrome vary from one person to another.
1/ Difficulty with social communication
2/ Difficulty with social interaction.
3/ Difficulty with social imagination.

Most people with Asperger syndrome have their own ways of coping with things. They stick rigidly to routine and get upset if their routine is changed in even a slight way. They like things organised and are usually repetitive. For example they like to go the same route to and from anywhere and find it irritating if they have to deviate for any reason. People with Aspergers syndrome sometimes become obsessive about a hobby or interest and in a lot of cases these interests and hobbies are carried with them throughout their lives. Some have a problem with touch especially if it is sudden. People with Aspergers syndrome are usually misunderstood but they need help and understanding. Over 500.000 people in the UK are known to have autism yet autism is still relatively unknown and very little help is there for families of people with autism. If you know anyone who has autism you will know how difficult it is to live with. There is an organisation that will help their telephone number is 020 7833 2299 and their email address nas@nas.org.uk

For people with autism body language can appear just as if someone is speaking to them in a foreign language. Many think that the things said to them are meant literally. Like the phrase “You look cool” to someone with autism they would think that you mean they look cold not that they are looking good.
They also find facial expressions or tone of voice hard to understand, also sarcasm and jokes.
Some people with autism may not speak or may have very limited speech and prefer to use sign language or visual symbols. Others will have fairly good language skills but still find it hard to understand vague conversations. It will help them if you speak in a clear consistent way and give them time to process what has been said to them.
People with autism often have difficulty understanding other people’s feelings and emotions and also have difficulty expressing their own emotions. They may find it hard to fit in socially, maybe start a conversation that is inappropriate. They may something that is upsetting to someone because they do not recognise how someone else is feeling.
They often prefer to spend time alone and not seek the company of others. They often seem to behave strangely because it is not easy for them to express their emotions, feelings and needs.
Difficulties with social imagination does not mean lack of imagination. many are very creative and become accomplished writers, artists or perhaps musicians.
Many experience bullying or are thought of as being stupid. The world is a very cruel place. Learn how to understand and not judge. They are not stupid they are decent human beings and my father taught me something that I have carried with me throughout my life and I apply to every person that I meet who needs either a kind word, a friendly face, an open ear, a helping hand or any other kind of help.
“THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I”
If you know someone that has autism or even if you don’t (you will surely meet someone one day who has or knows someone who has) take the time to find out about it. You never know it may be one of your own family one day that may need your knowledge and understanding. If you want to know more then a useful number is 020 7833 2299
or Email: nas@nas.org.uk
The National Autistic Society registered office is 393 City Road, London EC1V 1Ng

She developed a craving for jelly babies so I stocked up on them.  Then early one morning Kymm phoned me and said she had started bleeding so I jumped in the car and drove straight over there.  We took her straight to the hospital and waited tentively whilst the doctors examined her.  Luckily everything was fine and although she was early, much later that day, she gave birth to my beautiful Grand-daughter. I was lucky enough to be allowed in at the birth and it was amazing seeing Sarah jayne the moment she was born and the bond between us was incerdible.  Over the next few months (or years) we spent such a lot of time together.  I would literally kidnap her on the pretence that it was giving Kymm some much needed rest but in reality it was just that I couldn’t get enough of Sarah.  We laughed and played and sang and danced. I saw her nearly every day and we both enjoyed it.  Then we discovered that Sarah had dyspraxia.  Dyspraxia is recognised to be an impairment of the organisation of movement.  There is usually no known cause but current research sugests that it is an immaturity of neurone development in the brain rather than to brain damage.

In Sarah’s case it was discovered when she went for her first school medical.  The doctor noticed that she was not walking evenly on both feet and after several tests Dypraxia was diagnosed.  Sarah only had it in a milder form and after several weekly visits to a special class was quite able to develop her skills and manage her Dyspraxia very well. The headmaster at the school that Sarah attended was brilliant.  He took notice of all the children  there and when he found out about Sarah’s diagnosis he found out as much as he could about it and introduced varios ways to help her overcome it.  He also made sure that all the children did the same exercises as Sarah so that she did not feel as if she was different.  He instructed the teachers on any new developments that would help her and he gave her so much confidence.  She can now do all the things that it was hard for her to learn and is a very intelligent girl.  Sarah is 11 years old now and just getting ready to start the comprehensive school.  Whilst she is still a little nervous of new experiences she handles them very well. She is brilliant at most computer games (especially car driving or ones where you have to fly planes) and I am so proud of her

Though I’m getting more forgetful and more mixed up in my head.

Sometimes I cannot remember, when I stand at the foot of the stair;

if I’m going up for something, or I’ve just come down from there.

As I gaze into the fridge so often, my poor mind is filled with doubt,

Have I just come to put the food away or have I come to take it out?

When darkness falls at evening, with my nightcap on my head,

I don’t know if I’m retiring, or just getting out of bed.

So if it’s my turn to write to you, there’s no need to be sore.

I may think that I’ve written last week and don’t want to be a bore.

Just remember that I love you and wish that you were here;

But now it’s early mail time, I must say goodbye my dear.

As I stand beside the post box wit face so very red,

Insead of posting you my letter, I’ve opened it instead.

Anita Spoon