question for those with autistic kids

My son has mild autism and non-verbal with very little speech. Things went downhill after the 15 month jabs and was diagnosed at 22 months. We kept in daycare until he started school last year and it has helped him to interact. He has ORRS funding which you can apply for depending on much help they need and a disability allowance through winz. Jacob's disability is so minor that you can't even tell at times. He is a very affectionate boy and loves doing what other kids are doing.

Even after 4 years I still cry and wish things were different for him as he desperately wants to talk but can't get the words out.

The Child Disability Allowance is there for any parents with a child that has needs that require special care. Jake has it for his reflux/dairy intolerance (even though hes off formula now and we don't actually have to buy him anything special other than lactose-free milk which is $4 a week). You should be able to get it for Bay and if Astin still has allergies for him too. Its not income-tested and its per child not per family.

Question - has anybody looked into what jim carreys girlfriend did for her son?? The blonde chick I can't remember her name...

i thought the same of respite too and almost declined the idea! so go for it... all of the above does take a bit of setting up and what have you but its worth it i think...
Jenny Mccarthy is from the camp of 'Autism can be cured".....i'm not so sure. i think someone will always be autistic but that in no way means they cant learn and improve.
My son now 8 is light years ahead of where we were when he was diagnosed at 2. we were similar to you kiwigal, in that he had hardly no speech at all for a few years but he has great basic skills now and can be quite independant around the home...its out in public that i hate as it is much more noticable, and as they look completely 'normal' people notice alot quicker...he appears soo naughty.
what i think helped us alot........
1. i left work when he was diagnosed. no, we couldnt afford to but he was more important.
2. we accepted his condition with open arms and rather than try and change him, we changed.
3. we have learnt to laugh (yes there were tears)the things he does are amazing. we learn from him.hes honest, straightfoward, takes no crap and doesnt bet around the bush! things alot of us adults need to do.
4. try all suggestions! hey, none may work but ONE might.
5. love the people that love and understand and have time for them. it will dwindle down to very few ..fast.
6.Got to be done as a family.stand strong TOGETHER. i would be a mess and it just wouldnt work if i didnt have Karl (the dad) and Mr 14 (big brother)..we all play important roles and when one of us is not up to it, the others usally are.

others please add some more....

Im not sure if i believe the whole "autism can be cured" thing.....

Im with you Aquarius - i dread going out in public (mostly just the big groups of people!) because that is where Bay will either freak out and hide and go the other extreme and jump around yelling and screaming and im sure to others it does look like hes simply naughty and uncontrolable!!

Bizzy - his words the other night didnt come so much from what we had said "around him" but i tend to joke with the inlaws about things like joking about each of us (mainly MIL and I) being pains in the bums to each other BUT i wasnt thinking about the fact that Bay takes things very litterally and doesnt understand joking so to him it was serious.....something that obviously wont be said around him anymore!!!

Yep fish oil is great!! I don't know about gluten-free diets as it didn't figure for us (that was over 20 years ago when real farmers didn't do diets lol) but I would absolutely definitely absolutely cut out processed, flavoured food and coloured crap. I can actually dig out the list my parents used and PM you if you like.