“My son is now 30. He had a terrible time at school because he was not diagnosed as having aspergers syndrome. He was finally diagnosed when he was 20. Since then we have worked very hard with him, doing role play and social interaction so that he is able to get on with people. Yes it is hard but its worth it. The earlier the diagnoses the better the outcome.
My son now has a girlfriend and knows how to behave with other people. Its always hard but keep working at it and eventually it all comes together. Autism does not mean "thick". It means they think in a very different way but eventually they get it.
Best wishes to you.”

“Dear Blingie,

The young man in question is getting the best possible intervention strategy and will improve because of it. Whether or not he ends up in mainstream or special school will be decided in the future when that point is reached.
There is no way of describing this journey as success or failure, the point is that the effort is being made in his life and it will make a difference.
The Son Rise Program is meant to assist children with autism to cope with their illness, and help them socialise. There is no limit to the potential they have, and we have no idea where they will end up.
Autistic children are amazing, beautiful and incredible.... The fact that it is possible to unlock their desire to socialise does not change those wonderful characteristics.

It is by putting this young man in the public eye, and others like him that will allow society to recognise these special children and how society itself must change and be more accepting...”

“A disibility cannot be overcome but Autism sufferes can learn lots through play and other ways and speech can come on over years, but this Dad neds to face that one day Special School is the only option for his child as with Autism theycan take alot of backwards steps there have been alot of times I would have like to go to papers over ways that my son and I have been treated over peoples ignorance from being asked to leave places having him called nasty names being stared at and put down by teachers calling him naughty people in shops saying he should be in an Instituaion and not being able to get him help in school but being refused special school the list of my despair has been endless fighting for my child and alot of my friends who I met when a nice person has come over to me and talked to us when other people in public have shunned us. This little Lad is very young and he will come on especially now as there is less descrimination as there was when my lad was at school Ive never had any help as Im as single parent and had to look after my elderly parents till they died. I ve just never been to papers cause I dont want to expose my child”

“Dear Blingie as a mother of an autistic child who was stabbed in the head with a pen a few months ago, also thrown down a flight of stairs, punched, kicked, booted around, assaulted left right and center, had trips to the hospital and got the police involved...don't judge me unless you have walked a mile in my shoes.. I see a man trying to make an effort and someone else trying to turn that effort into something negative....don't knock him because he managed to do something good! Go back to wonderland malice....unless you have something positive to say I don't want to know.”

“Can I also add personally to 'blingie' that there is no desire for any comments to become insulting or personal.
The differing opinion of one parent to another is perfectly acceptable.
I would say though that 20 years ago - cancer was classed as incurable but after an awful lot of fighting by parents/carers etc. the attitude towards it was changed.
I am glad that William was born when he was, as I would have struggled myself so much 10 years ago.
Attitudes are starting to change, the disability is being investigated further, studies are being done and in another 10 years time, there could be the same level of treatment that is available for cancer.
As with all illnesses, if you can give early intervention then that is good. It does not mean that it will be cured every time but it does make a difference..

The opportunity to see it in action is available if you wish it...

Kindest Regards”

“You absolutely CAN improve the life of a child with autism through hard work and dedication. I know, i've done it myself. I know Gareth and he is in no way trying to "cure" his son just trying to improve his relationship with the world around him. If you want to help your autistic children in the area we live you HAVE to do it yourself because the services are disgustin, I can't imagine a worse area. Well done Gareth x”

“The Name was not chosen by me but by the Sentinel team so you are very wrong, I am a parent of an Autistic child well now teenager and have been exactly where he is and so have many of my friends whom alot have felt annoyed at him when they have seen him in paper so you are so far from the truth and the ignorant one, other Adult sufferes who have come on alot with what they have learnt through special or mainstream schools have also told me that they have felt that he looks down on Autism when alot of Autistic people do have other good things in their lives, so mind your mouth, you are the one who is very ignorant to lives of our children and how we care for them.”

“Dear all,
Please do not misunderstand the effort to give a son their best chance in life as non acceptance of a disability.
It is possible to make a difference so that a disability can be overcome and a normal life can be had.
Special Schools are excellent and in this case the program is actually funded by the Local Authority through Abbey Hill Special School.
The program is a one to one intensive therapy that assists the child to desire to be more sociable through fun activities. The child even has their own custom made class room.
It is not rocket science, nor a 'miracle cure' it is is just intensive effort to teach the child in the area that they have the most difficulty.
Every parent must choose what is the correct path for their child, but at least this means that there are more alternatives to choose from.
Also the first principal of the Son Rise Program is to love your child unconditionally, exactly as they are, and then you can help them learn.
All the amazing practitioners in special schools also try and change the children in their care, it is what teachers and parents do - it is not about denial or non-acceptance.
There is no miracle cure for autism, but it can be worked on so that a normal life is attainable.
What is wrong with wishing that for your child?”

“Well blingie...I assume you call yourself that as you are to pre occupied with all that blings and not the real world as is. That man as worked really hard with his wife to help that little boy. It's a ignorant world in which we live, and he will use his success to help others and re educate adults in to looking at autism in a more positive more helpful way. So all that glitters may not be gold but I tell you now that man is more bling than you will ever be!”

“This guy really annoys me, he is an insult to sufferers of Autism and any other disibility for that matter. Ive seen him in here before always trying to fix this little lad, he is in denial and needs to get that Autism is a life long disibility and things will never change this little boy, he will learn some things but will always come up against struggles. Parent spend alot of time energy and emotion trying to get their children into Special Schools, how dare he be so insulting to them plus all the good work they do, he also needs to have respect for other parents who would never change their children and try to fix them and love and accept them for who they are.”