AGXStarseed
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(Not written by me)
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism,' she says
Autism is much more common than many people think. There are around 700,000 people in the UK with the condition - that’s more than 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.7 million people every day. Mum Laura Rhodes, whose son goes to the specialist Grange School in Gorton, tells her story.
“I suspected something might be wrong when Jake wasn’t developing as a toddler. I’d had two boys before and I just knew he wasn’t developing in the same way.
“He would cry all the time, he didn’t walk until he was 16 months old and he was behind with his speech. There was no ‘mama’ or dada’, just noises.
"When Jake was first assessed, we were given an autism diagnosis very quickly. In a way, I was pleased there was a label for what he had because then we could get help.
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'It’s not all hard work. Jake is extremely funny'
“Not knowing was much worse. The worst thing about autism is other people’s ignorance and a lack of tolerance. I know my child and I know what he needs by the noises he makes. I can see it a mile off when something is wrong or he’s about to have a melt down.
“You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism. For example, I know that if Jake sees a photo booth in a shop we can’t leave until he’s a had his pictures done. But if I don’t have any change on me I know he’ll have a melt down in the shop in front of everyone.
“When that happens he’ll kick, scream and pull my hair. It happens so often I’m used to it, it’s how other people react is the problem. I’ve had people come over and tell him off for being so rude.
"That’s down to their ignorance and their lack of education.
“I understand that but I would never dream of judging someone else or telling them your parenting skills leave a lot to be desired.”
Trending Politics Salford Manchester Offers
National Autism Week: Mum shares her inspiring and uplifting story of having a child with autism
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism,' she says
Autism is much more common than many people think. There are around 700,000 people in the UK with the condition - that’s more than 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.7 million people every day. Mum Laura Rhodes, whose son goes to the specialist Grange School in Gorton, tells her story.
“I suspected something might be wrong when Jake wasn’t developing as a toddler. I’d had two boys before and I just knew he wasn’t developing in the same way.
“He would cry all the time, he didn’t walk until he was 16 months old and he was behind with his speech. There was no ‘mama’ or dada’, just noises.
"When Jake was first assessed, we were given an autism diagnosis very quickly. In a way, I was pleased there was a label for what he had because then we could get help.
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'It’s not all hard work. Jake is extremely funny'
“Not knowing was much worse. The worst thing about autism is other people’s ignorance and a lack of tolerance. I know my child and I know what he needs by the noises he makes. I can see it a mile off when something is wrong or he’s about to have a melt down.
“You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism. For example, I know that if Jake sees a photo booth in a shop we can’t leave until he’s a had his pictures done. But if I don’t have any change on me I know he’ll have a melt down in the shop in front of everyone.
“When that happens he’ll kick, scream and pull my hair. It happens so often I’m used to it, it’s how other people react is the problem. I’ve had people come over and tell him off for being so rude.
"That’s down to their ignorance and their lack of education.
“I understand that but I would never dream of judging someone else or telling them your parenting skills leave a lot to be desired.”
“It can be very hard for siblings and create a lot of resentment. Jake’s 12-year-old-brother will often feel very pushed out because he can’t do the things he wants to do. The guilt can be overwhelming at times because he doesn’t have the brother he was expecting.
“One of the biggest things as a parent is accepting that you have a child with autism. Don’t get me wrong, I get sick to death of autism.
"It’s sounds awful but sometimes you just want to be left alone. I feel terrible for saying it but I think it’s natural as a parent to get frustrated, you’re only human.
“When Jake was first diagnosed I had to grieve for the child you thought you were getting. I didn’t leave the house for the first 3-4 months because I thought everyone would be looking at me and Jake. I thought everyone knew. But eventually you accept it’s part of who you’re child is.
“And it’s not all hard work. Jake is extremely funny. He has me in stitches at times and he’s very loving. I always say Jake has autism but autism doesn’t have Jake.”
What is autism?
Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways.
Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support.
People with autism may also experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.
Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language
People with autism have said that the world, to them, is a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of, and which can cause them considerable anxiety.
The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the ‘triad of impairments’. They are:
---
'Sometimes I feel left out . . . I am different to other people and I do get upset'
James Woodhouse, aged 15, is a pupil at Grange School, in Gorton. He said: “Sometimes I feel left out. Well, not totally left out but I am different to other people.
“I do get upset at times because I’m different and I’m not like my sister. When I’m at school and I’m given a piece of work I just find it really hard, where as other people would just do it easily.”
It’s often a hidden disability few people know about or understand. But autistic youngsters at the special school are determined stand out and educate people about their disability.
'I do get upset at times because I’m different and I’m not like my sister,' says James
To mark World Autism Awareness Week, children and staff at Grange School released 160 blue balloons into the sky – one for each of their autistic pupils.
No pupil’s needs are the same and each receives specialist support to educate them and help them prepare for the outside world. Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.
It affects their social skills and their ability to read other people’s emotions. This is why certain social situations can be extremely uncomfortable or distressing for someone with autism.
It can also affect their speech, which is why some people with autism are unable to talk. Mike Dibley, a family liaison officer at Grange School, said: “I try and keep things in simple terms when I’m explaining autism.
“If you think of listening to a radio, it’s like people with autism are tuned into to a different wavelength to everyone else. It varies hugely from person to person, but someone with autism will struggle with social communication, and interaction.
Mike Dibley, a family liaison officer at Grange School. 'If you think of listening to a radio, it’s like people with autism are tuned into to a different wavelength to everyone else'
“That’s why they make very little or no eye contact or have little or no speech. Skills that we take for granted, like reading the expression on a person’s face, they will find incredibly difficult.
“They also struggle with their imagination and take everything literally. That’s why someone with autism just won’t understand jokes.
“However, some children are very high functioning and can speak really well – to the point where you almost wouldn’t know they had a disability.
A class at Grange School
“In some ways, the pressure is even greater on them because people simply aren’t aware they are autistic. Mike says that sadly the greatest challenge for people with autism is other people’s lack of awareness.
Not only are people with autism extremely vulnerable, they are often the target of bullying and isolation. Mike, whose own 13-year-old son diagnosed with autism, said: “The biggest misconception is that people with autism are like Rain Man.
“People will ask what your special talent is or whether they’re really clever, and it’s just not the case.”
SOURCE ARTICLE (With Video): National Autism Week: Mum shares her inspiring and uplifting story of having a child with autism - Manchester Evening News
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism,' she says
Autism is much more common than many people think. There are around 700,000 people in the UK with the condition - that’s more than 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.7 million people every day. Mum Laura Rhodes, whose son goes to the specialist Grange School in Gorton, tells her story.
“I suspected something might be wrong when Jake wasn’t developing as a toddler. I’d had two boys before and I just knew he wasn’t developing in the same way.
“He would cry all the time, he didn’t walk until he was 16 months old and he was behind with his speech. There was no ‘mama’ or dada’, just noises.
"When Jake was first assessed, we were given an autism diagnosis very quickly. In a way, I was pleased there was a label for what he had because then we could get help.
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'It’s not all hard work. Jake is extremely funny'
“Not knowing was much worse. The worst thing about autism is other people’s ignorance and a lack of tolerance. I know my child and I know what he needs by the noises he makes. I can see it a mile off when something is wrong or he’s about to have a melt down.
“You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism. For example, I know that if Jake sees a photo booth in a shop we can’t leave until he’s a had his pictures done. But if I don’t have any change on me I know he’ll have a melt down in the shop in front of everyone.
“When that happens he’ll kick, scream and pull my hair. It happens so often I’m used to it, it’s how other people react is the problem. I’ve had people come over and tell him off for being so rude.
"That’s down to their ignorance and their lack of education.
“I understand that but I would never dream of judging someone else or telling them your parenting skills leave a lot to be desired.”
Trending Politics Salford Manchester Offers
National Autism Week: Mum shares her inspiring and uplifting story of having a child with autism
- 11:48, 3 April 2015
- By Charlotte Dobson
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- A mother and a young boy with autism share their powerful experiences of a condition that effects many but few others understand
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Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism,' she says
Autism is much more common than many people think. There are around 700,000 people in the UK with the condition - that’s more than 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.7 million people every day. Mum Laura Rhodes, whose son goes to the specialist Grange School in Gorton, tells her story.
“I suspected something might be wrong when Jake wasn’t developing as a toddler. I’d had two boys before and I just knew he wasn’t developing in the same way.
“He would cry all the time, he didn’t walk until he was 16 months old and he was behind with his speech. There was no ‘mama’ or dada’, just noises.
"When Jake was first assessed, we were given an autism diagnosis very quickly. In a way, I was pleased there was a label for what he had because then we could get help.
Laura and Jake Rhodes. 'It’s not all hard work. Jake is extremely funny'
“Not knowing was much worse. The worst thing about autism is other people’s ignorance and a lack of tolerance. I know my child and I know what he needs by the noises he makes. I can see it a mile off when something is wrong or he’s about to have a melt down.
“You almost develop a sixth sense when you have a child with autism. For example, I know that if Jake sees a photo booth in a shop we can’t leave until he’s a had his pictures done. But if I don’t have any change on me I know he’ll have a melt down in the shop in front of everyone.
“When that happens he’ll kick, scream and pull my hair. It happens so often I’m used to it, it’s how other people react is the problem. I’ve had people come over and tell him off for being so rude.
"That’s down to their ignorance and their lack of education.
“I understand that but I would never dream of judging someone else or telling them your parenting skills leave a lot to be desired.”
“It can be very hard for siblings and create a lot of resentment. Jake’s 12-year-old-brother will often feel very pushed out because he can’t do the things he wants to do. The guilt can be overwhelming at times because he doesn’t have the brother he was expecting.
“One of the biggest things as a parent is accepting that you have a child with autism. Don’t get me wrong, I get sick to death of autism.
"It’s sounds awful but sometimes you just want to be left alone. I feel terrible for saying it but I think it’s natural as a parent to get frustrated, you’re only human.
“When Jake was first diagnosed I had to grieve for the child you thought you were getting. I didn’t leave the house for the first 3-4 months because I thought everyone would be looking at me and Jake. I thought everyone knew. But eventually you accept it’s part of who you’re child is.
“And it’s not all hard work. Jake is extremely funny. He has me in stitches at times and he’s very loving. I always say Jake has autism but autism doesn’t have Jake.”
What is autism?
Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways.
Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support.
People with autism may also experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.
Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language
People with autism have said that the world, to them, is a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of, and which can cause them considerable anxiety.
The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the ‘triad of impairments’. They are:
- Difficulty with social communication
- Difficulty with social interaction
- Difficulty with social imagination
- Love of routines
- Sensory sensitivity
- Special interests
- Learning disabilities
---
'Sometimes I feel left out . . . I am different to other people and I do get upset'
James Woodhouse, aged 15, is a pupil at Grange School, in Gorton. He said: “Sometimes I feel left out. Well, not totally left out but I am different to other people.
“I do get upset at times because I’m different and I’m not like my sister. When I’m at school and I’m given a piece of work I just find it really hard, where as other people would just do it easily.”
It’s often a hidden disability few people know about or understand. But autistic youngsters at the special school are determined stand out and educate people about their disability.
'I do get upset at times because I’m different and I’m not like my sister,' says James
To mark World Autism Awareness Week, children and staff at Grange School released 160 blue balloons into the sky – one for each of their autistic pupils.
No pupil’s needs are the same and each receives specialist support to educate them and help them prepare for the outside world. Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.
It affects their social skills and their ability to read other people’s emotions. This is why certain social situations can be extremely uncomfortable or distressing for someone with autism.
It can also affect their speech, which is why some people with autism are unable to talk. Mike Dibley, a family liaison officer at Grange School, said: “I try and keep things in simple terms when I’m explaining autism.
“If you think of listening to a radio, it’s like people with autism are tuned into to a different wavelength to everyone else. It varies hugely from person to person, but someone with autism will struggle with social communication, and interaction.
Mike Dibley, a family liaison officer at Grange School. 'If you think of listening to a radio, it’s like people with autism are tuned into to a different wavelength to everyone else'
“That’s why they make very little or no eye contact or have little or no speech. Skills that we take for granted, like reading the expression on a person’s face, they will find incredibly difficult.
“They also struggle with their imagination and take everything literally. That’s why someone with autism just won’t understand jokes.
“However, some children are very high functioning and can speak really well – to the point where you almost wouldn’t know they had a disability.
A class at Grange School
“In some ways, the pressure is even greater on them because people simply aren’t aware they are autistic. Mike says that sadly the greatest challenge for people with autism is other people’s lack of awareness.
Not only are people with autism extremely vulnerable, they are often the target of bullying and isolation. Mike, whose own 13-year-old son diagnosed with autism, said: “The biggest misconception is that people with autism are like Rain Man.
“People will ask what your special talent is or whether they’re really clever, and it’s just not the case.”
SOURCE ARTICLE (With Video): National Autism Week: Mum shares her inspiring and uplifting story of having a child with autism - Manchester Evening News
