Inside our autistic minds bbc2 9pm tonight

anisty

Might be worth a watch. Ken Bruce's non verbal son is on - he writes incredible  poetry. Chris Packham presents - and investigates the latest technology to help others understand what it feels like to be autistic.

Sandy_123

Oh that sounds good @anisty

Hannah_Alumni

That sounds very interesting @anisty

Thanks for letting us know!  

SueHeath

That does sound very interesting @anisty thank you 

anisty

Yes, it does sound interesting - it's the first of a two parter so look out for part 2 next week!

anisty

Wow! That was a really powerful watch! Well worth catching on iplayer for any of you that are interested and missed it. Ken Bruce's son is unusual in that he is non verbal (or non speaking as they seem to call it) but obviously very intelligent - no learning difficulty at all. 

Neither of the 2 people featured was like my son but it was interesting to see the rocking behaviour described as my son used to rock a lot. I haven't seen him rocking for ages now- but maybe he still does in the privacy of his room. He does shut down though when stressed.

Very interesting. Did anyone else catch it and what did you think?

Puja

I’m looking forward to watching this too x

SueHeath

Will be watching this on iplay - i've mention it to my Sister in Law as my nephew is severe bless and she's struggling at the moment, but i will watch it first then see if i will tell her more x

OverlyAnxious

I watched it and found it really interesting.  Could relate quite strongly.  I've always had problems with speech myself, and more recently became totally unable to speak.  But that doesn't mean the inner monologue stops!  I don't have any social interaction at the moment, but in the past people would often assume I couldn't understand them just because I couldn't reply immediately.

I must admit that even I was surprised by Murray's level of vocabulary for someone that has never spoken.  Just goes to show that even with experience of a subject, we should never get complacent. 

anisty

I think Murray must be very rare in the way he presents - i wonder if there is mutism there too. Usually, learning disability is involved when somebody has no speech - and most people can make some vocalisation in the form of non-speech sounds if speech does not develop.

Thank goodness for AAC!  I did wonder if Murray is able to write with a pen at all - i got the bit about apraxia but he looked to be dyspraxic, rather than apraxic. 

Yes, certainly an eye-opener for non autistic people like myself. My son tends to become mono syllabic when stressed. We know to leave him alone and he will come out if it in his own time. He is never really able to express what the problem has been - though often we can hazard a good guess.

The longest one recently was when we were away in Blackpool and all went out to celebrate his brother's birthday.

He stopped speaking that night and didn't start again for 3 full days. I thought he felt ill - he was vocalising 'no' when i asked him if he wanted any paracetamol, if he had a sore throat etc.  But nothing else.

He came out of it once we were on our way home and away from Blackpool.

The issue seems to have been jealousy that his brother was getting all the attention and a special birthday night. Then it dawned on me that he has no way to verbalise the feeling of jealousy. I think this might even be quite a new emotion for him to be feeling. He probably didnt realise himself why he did not enjoy the birthday night and felt grim.

His birthday is very close to his brother's and it seems to be that he wanted to be in Blackpool on his own birthday - that we were there for his brother's was all too much.


I found the description from the other lady featured about how it felt when she found plans had changed for Tesco/sainsbury's really fascinating - like pushing rocks through filter paper.

We've always left our son to come round himself and it's reassuring that seems to be the right thing.


Similarly if he has made up his mind not to do something, that's it. To try to persuade him otherwise stresses him. He is much better left to make his own mind up in his own time.

anisty

Interestingly, there is a discussion on radio Scotland just now about this programme. 2 very articulate autistic people are in the studio chatting about it and they are both very positive about the programme.

One of them said it had really helped his fianceé's mum understand what autism is like.

Has anyone else watched it yet?

Alex_Alumni

I keep meaning to @anisty it sounds like an insightful watch, and I'm glad it's getting positive feedback from autistic people as well.

These kinds of programmes can be really important tools in increasing disability awareness  

durhamjaide2001

I watched the first episode last night and I dreamed about this none verbal person can't remember the name of it mentioned a university degree course for learning disabilities specifically for people interested in hospitality. 

anisty

It's well worth catching, @Alex_Scope - and part 2 is coming this Tuesday.

I think what is still difficult is that the autistic spectrum is so wide, it's difficult to appreciate the difficulties faced by those who appear cognitively very able.  Especially, as in the case of the lady featured, those that mask so well that they outwardly appear very normal.

It is easier to see autism in people that appear a bit 'nerdy/geeky'

It has got me thinking about the current classification system for autism with levels one, two and three.

My son was diagnosed before the new system came in but i think he might be between levels 1 and 2. And, if he had to fit neatly into one level - it would be 1 i think.

And yet he is no where near as able as the lady on the programme. I think the old classification was better where the lady would probably be 'high functioning'  The new levels seem very broad.

Cognitively, my son is not as able as Murray Bruce either - no way would he be able to express that complexity of thought and yet of course his function is better as my son does talk, just like a much younger person really.

I think my son will end up in hospitality @durhamjaide2001 but no way could he do a degree! (Is that even necessary for hospitality?!)

He is in supported employment just now and it has been fantastic for him. He takes orders in a cafe and brings out the food.  It's a community enterprise which provides employment opportunities for disabled people - not just autism; it's any disability that makes entering the workplace difficult.

Hopefully later this year he can transfer over to a cafe where he can manage without the specialist support. He has been at this cafe over 4 years now so he needs to move on so that more people get a chance.


It would be interesting to know, now that more adults are coming forward for diagnosis, what proportion of autistic people are cognitively able. It is maybe higher than previously thought.


Certainly a fascinating programme that has made me think!

Alex_Alumni

It sounds fascinating, I'm glad to hear there's a second part. 

It's wonderful to hear how your son is working with the support of a community enterprise @anisty, I see these are becoming more common place across the country, and I think they are well worth supporting

It also highlights the barriers still faced by many disabled people when looking for work, so hopefully a transfer will be on the horizon soon. Let us know how he gets on!

anisty

I definitely will do!  Yes, these community caffs are great and the food is excellent too - well worth supporting🙂

L_Volunteer

As an autistic person, I shed a tear! It was really moving 

anisty

I also shed a tear as a non-autistic person - it was really moving indeed!  It'll be very interesting to see who features in part 2 as every individual has their own strengths and weaknesses. I bet it will be really moving again!  Just looking ahead to part 2 it features:

Anton - a teaching assistant and trance DJ with a deep love of Middlesborough FC.

And

Ethan - a 19yr old student from Essex and aspiring rapper.

anisty

Just a reminder part 2 tonight at 9pm bbc2

SueHeath

Yep clocked it thanks @anisty still on my catch up list x

anisty

I will need to catch it up too - have recorded it as Martin Lewis was on for 1.5 hrs tonight.