Autism Awareness Month - April 4

Throughout April we will be sharing a different story each day to help raise Autism Awareness and highlight how peoples' lives have been touched by Autism and Autism Queensland in different ways. 

Kylie's Story

Hi there,

My name is Kylie and I have two children, a daughter who is seven and my autistic son who is five.
My son was first diagnosed at the age of three but as a mother I knew there was something not quite right from the start. My son was always angry and trying to hurt someone, something or himself. He was always very anxious about everything. By the age of three he had smashed nearly every toy we owned, broken both his front teeth by smacking his head against the tiled floor, and had several concussions. He never slept and still doesn't. Everyone used to say that he was just a boy and that maybe he just needed a kick up the bum. No body truly understood him and therefore we have lost many friends and even some family.

We tried many things; I went to allergy clinics and got him tested, I went to a chiropractor for months, he was put on many elimination diets, I went to a peadiatrician who told me to go and do a parenting course (which I did). I went to a phsychologist with him.  I was then referred to another peadiatrician who diagnosed him with High Functioning Autism.

I was devastated and relieved at the same time. Devastated because I would have never thought that he was Autistic. He never sat in a corner and drooled. He could speak perfectly. He wasn't stupid. That was what I thought was Autism. Relieved because I finally had an answer why my son was like he was.

I then attended many courses (and still do) to learn more about Autism. I have learnt soooo much. To look at my son, he is "normal" and his behaviour is like "a naughty kid", however there is sooo much more going on inside. This is why we now have to avoid the shops because it is too overwhelming for him and we get comments from uneducated people that not only hurt me but suggest that he is "just bad".

My son now attends Prep and is doing really well. He is very intelligent and is often more advanced then "mainstream kids". We attend Occupational therapy sessions every week and have done for about 2 years. It is unfortunate that people don't understand these kids. Now when I see kids having a meltdown in the shops I really feel for the parent whereas before my son was born I used to think to myself that they were "naughty". I was soo uneducated!