[Sara J]

I think the research is such that certain genes predispose a child to autism, so if you have a son then there is a chance he could develop as autistic somewhere on the spectrum

I am “high functioning” ASD, diagnosed as a 13-year-old and again in my 40’s with a more “constructive” approach than back in the early 70’s when you were basically consigned to the heap with the label “retard”.

HF ASD to be fair has been tough to live with over the years and actually got tougher as I got into my 40’s and 50’s maybe because I’ve realised just how much it has impacted my life and how life could have been if I was “normal” as everyone seemed to want me to be. Although it has defined who I am, I can’t say that it has been a welcome companion on my travel through life.

I would say that in some ways my father shows ASD tendencies, he is very very fixed in his routines and does not like them to be challenged or changed. He hates noise and likes order and can be oblivious abtou the way other people see him.

My son? He’s shown signs of ASD like traits. But having lived with me, and talked openly about it he is really aware of those tendencies in his thinking and behaviour. He has found it difficult to manage the incidents where he has behaved according to type, is aware of it and can’t climb back down. But he is at Uni, doing really well and is a really popular guy, but there is always that slight standing back from everyone else and maintaining his own barriers.

Sorry, that was a bit of a ramble!