Autism Diary

Whatever autism is, it's not what I thought. Diary by Dad (Ian) of E's life at the severe end of the spectrum.

[Ian Goldsworthy - @iangoldsworthy.bsky.social @Ian_Goldsworthy]

Doing a bit at the Essex Inclusion Conference next week about experiences of #autism as both a teacher and parent.

That both these statements are true is probably one of the main things I want people to take away from it

[Dr Liliya T Bakiyeva WHEATCRAFT @BakiyevaLiliya]

I don't believe that ignoring or blocking people who don't agree with my views is of any benefit to anyone; esp to me.
I do believe that everyone on the spectrum - and their families - is entitled to their own feelings and opinions about the effect of #Autism on their own life.

[Ian Goldsworthy - @iangoldsworthy.bsky.social @Ian_Goldsworthy]

So I told my Yr 2 class about my son being disabled yesterday. I was late in - son’s school on INSET, wife laid low by flu, meant I had to arrange care - and it seemed silly to say anything other than the real reason I was late.

Couple of interesting things then happened...

[Ian Birrell @ianbirrell]

Why this shameful scandal over barbaric incarceration of people with autism and learning disabilities is a glaring example of political failure - my @theipaper column https://t.co/x3kCiZ1dvH

[Ian Goldsworthy - @iangoldsworthy.bsky.social @Ian_Goldsworthy]

A thread about the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful #thereshegoes which I finally and belatedly finished watching (viewing schedules being somewhat at the mercy of events when you have a son with #learningdisabilities) 1/14

https://t.co/J562gsvlww

[Ian Goldsworthy - @iangoldsworthy.bsky.social @Ian_Goldsworthy]

I’ve also live tweeted what it’s like to be dad to a boy with #autism at my other account @DiaryAutism

#ThereSheGoes

[Ian Goldsworthy - @iangoldsworthy.bsky.social @Ian_Goldsworthy]

Since I’m picking up a few new followers from #ThereSheGoes (shhh, I’m two episodes behind)

A year ago today we were on @VictoriaLIVE and did this article for the bbc about how tough life can be caring for a child with #learningdisabilities

https://t.co/d6DlQWO5Oy

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

@M_X_F I’m a couple of episodes behind but I’d class it as a comedy in the same vein as we laugh at a lot of the stuff that happens with our boy.

You either find the humour where you can or it drags you under

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

And then I made a typo in this tweet 🤣

Back to Twitter silence I go...

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

I’ve not posted anything in @DiaryAutism for a while

#Thereshegoes was so extraordinary I had to talk about it

Typically I did so from the wrong account 🤣

So here’s a RT if my thoughts on an amazing show

[Ian Goldsworthy - @iangoldsworthy.bsky.social @Ian_Goldsworthy]

Just watched #Thereshegoes on @BBCFOUR and feel absolutely overwhelmed.

After so many years of watching #autism be depicted as a super power, it was so refreshing to see something in which the parents weren’t saints and having a child with additional needs took its toll 1/9

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Huzzah! We have heating.

Twitter rant to the rescue

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Update: engineer now visiting today between 12-6 following Twitter tanty

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

I have spent nearly 5 hours on hold, still have a broken boiler and freezing house containing a disabled (and poorly) child, but don't even have an appointment booked!

What exactly am I paying my money for here? @HomeServeHelps @HomeServeUK

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Now transferred again and have sat on hold so far this morning for 1 hour 45 minutes

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Called again this morning only to be told that the number I had been given was for drainage, not boiler issues.

Transferred to a different department who told me that my call last night hadn't actually been logged on the system at all!

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Family had to go and stay elsewhere.

Myself and E had to tough it out in freezing temperatures with only a couple of heaters as there was nowhere else safe and appropriate I could take him

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Called the special number I was given to access the emergency team - sat in hold queue for another hour before giving up.

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Explained I had a child with severe learning disabilities. Promised a call by 7:30pm yesterday to arrange a priority appointment.

No call

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

Absolutely appalling service from @HomeServeUK @HomeServeHelps No heating or hot water since 2pm yesterday. After 2 hours on hold, first date offered for an engineer visit was Tuesday next week.

[Autism Diary @DiaryAutism]

@simon_prickett Start strengthening those neck muscles to get used to looking up. E is about the same height as my wife now. He is 12. She is 5'10 😱