What Does Autism Look Like?

Pamela - posted on 09/10/2010

My Son Jaron will be four years old in Dec he is non verbal autistic and a beautiful boy with his mommy's brown eyes.

Julie - posted on 09/10/2010

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KCS-Photog...!/photo.php?pid=3736176&id=210010938925&ref=fbx_album

My boy has Aspergers he looks no different this is William and he is fantastic!!

Kerrianne - posted on 10/30/2008

I agree that looking at my four year old you would never tell that he is PDD-NOS. He looks like an angel but when he gets going he's not! Aiden has a great range of specialists that help him get through kinder and he has a very special friend who acts just like his carer when he's there. But the behaviour when he's out - especially during school holidays - can be crazy I have had to walk through the shopping centre with him hanging off my leg because there were too many people around! He is what he is and we love him anyway. We have been lucky enough that no one has been rude or unkind to us concerning his behaviour.

Susanne (Susie) - posted on 10/30/2008

my son makes noises too, lately its been cat meow's...I thought it was only at home but its at school and everywhere, I got a little embarrassed when the teacher said, yes he meows and stuff in class, but they were great about it and the kids in class know thats just Cameron and seem to accept it. It made a huge difference when we moved from the city to a small town, they treat him so much better here. Take care

Kellie - posted on 10/30/2008

my son is 6 and has autism . Most people dont realise till he makes his noises,lol ,

Cristina - posted on 10/29/2008

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=66...



this is my then 3 year old son.... can you tell?

Julie - posted on 10/29/2008

I worked with autistic children and they don't have a look that makes them autistic. Sometimes you wouldn't even know till you communicate with them. It is not like Down's Syndrome where you can tell by looking at them, Their eyes when they have Down's Syndrome are further apart. I agree with your comment that autistic children don't have physical characteristics.

Sarah - posted on 10/29/2008

I agree that in some ways a physical problem would be easier. I get dirty looks from people that just don't get it. Unless you really know what you are looking for you can't tell that my son has anything wrong with him. I have a friend that is a teacher and doesn't really see it. However, she took a picture of him last summer and she noticed a difference in his picture. Something about his smile or the way he tilts his head or maybe lack of eye contact...Sometimes it screams autism. Again, you cannot tell, though, unless you know what to look for.

Susanne (Susie) - posted on 10/23/2008

my son, Cameron will not let us take pictures of him either...I have a bunch of pics of him hiding or running away...he didn't do school pics this year, the lady photographer was mean and told him...sit there...be quiet...so he opted to leave, the teacher was fine with that. It was not a good day for him...thanks...

Kerry - posted on 10/23/2008

ps check the picture of my 21 yo high functioning classic autistic son. He looks just like everyone else. but i did have to trick him into letting me take the picture. after about 10 shots of the bird, son dodging out of the way all the time, i had finally managed to convince him that i was photographing the bird, so he stood long enough to get a picture.
My son looks just like a perfectly normal young man, actually quite good looking, he just doesnt want to be near people, or have people look at him.
When his ritalin dose brought his hyperactivity under control, he would sit quietly and not say a word or move at any noise, he became the autistic. When he got to about 14 the other kids started calling him retarded and being really awful, because the behaviour became that of an autistic and not a hyperactive, person. Kids he had been at school with for years finally saw his disability they had heard about for years but not taken any notice as he didnt look different, just acted differently!

Kerry - posted on 10/23/2008

Susie you can get a card made up, or possible there are ones already made available i saw one at one stage. You hand it to the other people who know better than you how to parent a 'special' child. It reads something like, MY child has Autism, whats your excuse for being rude?
O some people would be a little offended but most would be more likely to ask you if there is something else that would work, or how do you usually deal with that behaviour. When my son was little and screamed most of the day, in pain i found out years later, people would report to social services that my child was always screaming. The department would then come and investigate to see if my son was being abused. I would have been much happier and better able to cope if that "helpful' person who called child protection people in, had of just asked if they could take him for a walk for five mins to give me a rest!!
Remind people who think they know everything, that a positive help would be more useful. I used to say to people, hey if you think you know better please show me how its done. At an early age when he screamed all day I drove to the doctors surgery with screamer in tow, got an emergency appointment, handed the doctor the baby and said" If I am imagining things YOU shut him up" then i sat and watched while he tried.
That was the first time anyone referred me to a specialist. Unfortunatly with children who have autism related conditions, you have to be the one breaking the circle. You have to let others know that their so called opinion will be of no assistance and that they should shut up if they cant help in a positive manner as your child is differently abled and requires thoughtful behavioural ideas which suit his special mind.
hang in there and read, discuss and learn all you can, just to keep your own sanity. And remember that if that opinion is not offered by someone willing to take your child on a day out, dont bother even listening. You do know what you are doing so keep plodding along.!

Susanne (Susie) - posted on 10/22/2008

I think the worst thing is they look so normal, then they have a tantrum and people think they are bad kids. My son thats 9 was diagnosed a few months ago with PDD-NOS. Its so difficult everyday, but especially if we go out to eat and he is loud and rude, etc. people have actually said to us...if you won't spank him I will or...he needs a good swat on the bum!!! Its so hard, I think if there was a physical deformity or something they would be more understanding. I will try to post a pic of him. He does have a look that he has most times, maybe its an autistic look. Never thought about it. Thanks.

Susanne (Susie) - posted on 10/22/2008

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