Hello - new to the NAS

Hi, I'm Emma,

Step mother to Eve for the last 13 years, who is severly autistic in addition to other difficulties she has as a result of an undiagnosed genetic condition.  She is at the severe end of the spectrum - no speech, mental age of 2/3, tantrums like said mental age, rocking and flapping behaviour, no patience, routine and task centric etc. etc.  I recently became aware of the NSA through fund raising for them, running the Great North Run in September.  I've joined the forum for some help, support, advice etc.  She's with us (me and my husband Andy, her dad) every weekend and has been for the last 13 years.  She'll be 14 in December.  Her behaviour is becoming increasingly challenging and difficult to manage - her physical age combined with her mental age is making that worse.  I'n here for any support and advice from the forum!