This Post has been moderated under the breaking of Rule of 4.
A gentle reminder to all users that rule 4 states .
"be nice to one another and enjoy chatting with others. We encourage conversation and respectful debate debate; please be aware that individuals may give opinions which are not shared by other members. Insulting posts or comments making personal jibes will not be tolerated".
Also, a documentary is in production to look into the failure of the current Education system to cater for individuals rather than a collective schooling solution that serves very few.
Can't relate to her at all. As a severely disabled autistic on state benefits, I could never do what she does. I can't raise a kid, can't have relationships, couldn't start my own business etc. I'm glad she can get understanding and help, but we really do need more sub categories because she doesn't have the condition I have at all.
my mum who i suspect is autistic, never told me i was autistic. I think her strategy worked quite well in that i assumed i was no different and did what i liked ! i had no limits , no labels, i was just another kid !
1. I've not told my children that I'm autistic and
2. I think my youngest daughter may be autistic but I have decided to not seek a diagnosis at this time (she is 4).
I don't know how old their children are but I don't know what age I'd think it is best to say it. My 7yr old is of above average intelligence for her age but I'm not sure I'd even want to tell her if she was autistic. I like my child to just "be" without having to think about things too much just yet. Maybe if autism wasn't such a loaded diagnosis then I'd think differently, but as it stands even I haven't told everyone that I'm autistic and I'm a grown woman.
I am judging this based on the skimpy outfits on her instagram (so yes her appearance) and the fact that her and her husband are on the local news website every other day, like the newspaper is sponsored by them.
She probably is very down to earth but I don't know her.
Yes I'm hoping my parents have seen about melanie. It's understandably for them been very difficult to talk about it since my diagnosis because autism = weird.
I fear you may be judging her based solely on her appearance, which is unfair. I’ve heard her speak twice, once about a whole new subject, and recently about her diagnosis. She seems to be a pleasant, down to earth woman with good morals and judgment. She isn’t ‘showbiz’ at all, and in fact has always struggled with her public appearances.
On a side note, I do find it a little strange that none of their children know they are on the spectrum. I have no idea when the parents will sit them down to tell them. Anyone else?
I suppose, I can't comment as obviously I don't know them personally but I am glad that when I get my official diagnosis and my parents inevitably say something like 'well you don't look autistic.' ie (i'm not like SuBo or Anne Hegarty) i can show them Christine and Melanie and say, well these women are autistic and I'm very much like them!
I agree. We are not all like SuBo! But also I do feel that Ms McGuiness would use it to her advantage for self publicity. This is just my opinion from what I have seen of her on the local news website and her instagram page.
Melanie Sykes said she was "celebrtaing" her diagnosis and good for her. I kind of feel like doing the same, to increase awareness that it affects normal, every day people. But at the same time, I'm just normal like everyone else and don't think I should be making a song and dance about it and coming across as "special". I did fill in the Guardian questionnaire that someone posted on this forum but I'm in two minds about whether I'd like it published or not if they contacted me. Maybe without my real name as i don't want to be Google-able.
It makes me really happy seeing her and Christine McGuinness talking about their diagnosis. As a female with autism, it's hard enough for us to get a diagnosis, then a lot of people think we're lying if we dont fit the stereotypical look of autism.
If we don't look or talk or act like Anne Hegarty, apparently we can't be autistic. I'm happy that there are glam girls speaking up about it.
Also: not saying anne isn't glam... I love that woman.
I think it is great to see a successful woman talk about being diagnosed as autistic. Hopefully more people will see that we are more than just deficits.
