keith duffy frm boyzone-helped autistic daughter into school

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keith duffy from boyzone (the really funny one) was on this morning, raising awareness about autism, speaking of his autistic daughter (possibly has a.s- since she is now in a mainstream school??)

though he said a lot of the usual things- better diagnosis, better services, better education etc needed (i dont mean to dismiss him- its just depressing that nothing improves), it was interesting to hear that early diagnosis of his daughter, and special help in a special school (much of it one to one, and helping with sensory problems etc), helped her so much that she is now in a mainstream school, and recently felt able to cope without a special needs assistant. she is 9, diagnosed before she was 2.

he has helped raise 4.5m euros for autism charties both in reland and the uk, and is really campaigning to get better diagnosis, help, and education fit for autistic children.

im not sure if they will post the interview on the website- its less than an hour ago, so maybe it will appear after the programme ends? but it was good to hear that someone has helped their child, and did not seem to have negative comments about autism- he said taht all autistics are diferent, but can be helped to a greater or lesser extent with early diagnosis and correct help.
best of all, he wasnt depressing.

http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/ThisMornin ... fault.html

Am sure it's classic autism she has-dad gets an irish newspaper every sunday and says he's nearly always in it talking about his daughters autism or fund raising or saying how bad services are there for autism.

ireland definitely does need better assessment help-more specialists,and support services for teens/adults.
one mental health pysch couldn't tell the difference between "schizophrenia with autistic traits" and obvious but hf classic autism in own cousin [Tallaght].

hi kingdom of rats -i wasnt sure.

but surely if she is in mainstream school, without an assistant, and has friends, and can sing and speak and communicate well, that sounds more like a.s than autism? also he mentioned sensory problems, which i thought were more of an issue in a.s than autism???

She would clearly be high functioning, but the line between AS and HFA tends to be determined by the early childhood signs, so if she was diagnosed very young, she will probably always be considered HFA. The two are highly related, with sensory issues et all occuring in both. At least, that is my understanding of it.

I am becoming more and more convinced that it is at least possible that many of the symptons of severe autism are often reactive - as in, a self-defense mechanism against, well, just "too much." As such, when dealt with sensitively, much of it can be reversed. The child is and always will be autistic, as in sensitive to certain things and thinking in a different way, but the retreat that has too often characterized the condition on the outside simply doesn't need to happen.

A lot of the rest is actually co-morbid, like my son's hypotonia. That is a whole other layer, and maybe this child is lucky in not having debilitating co-morbids.

Yep, I think you could say Mia (keith's daughter) has HFA. She didnt speak a word until she was five years old. Her first 'words' was a little song she sang one day. As you can imagine the tears of joy the family cried that day.

Keith does allot of fundraising for Irish Autism Action, he also uses every opportunity to bring autism into the conversation, when he is in the middle of an interview with his band members!! !

He is a funny down to earth guy, who you would want the best in life for him, his daughter and their family. He has made the trip to the US in the hope to find better 'treatment' and education for Mia. Sounds like you guys have made him, and his family very welcome xx