Aspies For Freedom

Autism got a mention today on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, of all programmes. I'll write down what was said while it's still fresh in my mind...

The first contestant had just won the Fastest Fingest First round so Chris Tarrant had to introduce her to the audience. "This is Maddy, she has two grown-up daughters and four grandchildren, including two grandsons who have been autistic since birth [sic]. If Maddy wins the jackpot she'd like to set up a trust fund for the grandsons, as well as buy herself a retirement bungalow...[cue aahs from the audience]."

At the next stage of the quiz (after the £1000 mark) CT asked Maddy about her grandsons.

CT: "So they're autistic: how does it affect them?"
M: "Well, they don't really talk yet [no word on how old either of them are], but one's really intelligent - he can do any jigsaw puzzle and then turn it over and do it again without the picture. The other one needs to be watched all the time or else he'll wander off."
CT: "And this trust fund: what would it be for?"
M: "It's for the future, to give them the supervision they need."
CT: "So a bit like nursing care?"
M: "Not nursing, Chris, supervision."

Autistic since birth? Who isn't?

At least she didn't say anything about the fund being for a cure...

I was going to post about this today, you beat me to it XD.


I was really glad she said she would pay for them to be cared for, and not plough the money into CAN like a lot of other misguided relatives. She didn't really talk about autism like it was bad, but Chris Tarrant was talking about them like they had cancer.

hehe :-) I like the way she corrected him on the nursing vs. supervision thing

Some experience that their children suddenly get a fit just after they have taken their vaccines appearently. Maybe the vaccines have such effect because of sensory problems.