Just wanted to say hello.

I am a mum of 5 children i live alone now with my children and have done for the last 5 years. after 18 years of an abusive marriage but we are safe now. My oldest son is now 22 years old. He is on the autistic spectrum and has ADD. i have been taking care of him and supporting him for the last 5 years without any medical help. Our GP has referred us to an autistic consultant because i and my son are desperate for help. He got his first job working as a refuge collector. He was open during interview and on his application form. He told them he had aspergers. the medical team phoned him after his interview and asked how his condition affects him and how they can help. He told them that he has a problem with day dreaming. but can easily refocus when called back to what he needs to be doing. He works really hard. and they are happy with him. but some of the drivers have been complaining that he is day dreaming too much. today the managers said he has to go on light duties until occupational therapy have interviewed him again and until he goes on medication for his ADD. Surely that should be my sons choice ? Our GP is now writing a further letter to add to his referral so he can get help with his sleeping and his attention. Everything was going so well. But the GP has sid it will take a long time but there are very few resources for adults with ADD. just feeling very alone. done it by myself for such a long time. just needing some friends other parents with adult children with aspergers and ADD. who know what im going through

  • Thank you for your help those links look good. I will give them a go.

  • Thank you. For your advice and sharing your wisdom.

  • refuse collection is a fast and furious job where I live. 

    I know off people who have been killed and one guy I knew was lost a load of fingers. The machinery is safer now but not full proof.

    You could easily be run over by the lorry  as it  starts and stops continously and sometimes in really narrow  places.

    .So if he is offered,  road sweeping, park clearing fence painting, tell him to take it. Then after a year with bit more confidence try again.

    See if he like painting walls, if yes, get him into working with painters. Its really tough painting walls everyday ( inside and out ) so if he can do that he could do well. 

    I hope they keep him on  

    as for you, well you're awesome and deserve a medal, but dont kick yourself up the  ar*e (again) for doing such a good job.

  • Hi NAS69252,

    Hello and welcome to the community, glad to have you with us! I'm sorry to hear about the difficulty you've been having with your son's work and ADD treatment. Given you mentioned wanting to talk to other parents I thought you might want to have a look at a couple of the resources here on the site. We have an Autism Services Directory which you can search for various types of services local to you, including social groups and family support services, which you can find here - https://www.autism.org.uk/directory#ServiceTypes

    Or you could try the NAS Parent-to-Parent line, which provides emotional support for parents of autistic adults or children from trained volunteers who are also parents of ASD children. The information for that is here: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/parent-to-parent

    Hope this might be of some help,
    Ross - mod