I’m a teacher with a specialism in ASD, and have worked closely with people on the spectrum for many years. People on the Asperger’s end of the spectrum can be highly intelligent and have great careers, as they are more likely to have the skills to manage their symptoms more effectively.

However, Autism isn’t about IQ, it’s about difficulties in reading other people, and in navigating social settings and interactions, because they have a very literal understanding of language. I would agree with you that Ali doesn’t have extreme traits of Autism, but I would guarantee her tendencies would still make life confusing and challenging for her.

To say that it is an excuse, rather than an actual problem, shows a total misunderstanding of the condition, which surprises me when you’ve shared that you have a daughter with Autism. Before you judge Ali in this way, perhaps consider if you would like people misjudging or dismissing your child in this way.

Just like everyone else, people on the spectrum can have different types of friendships.

Personality wise, Ali seems like a caring, compassionate and protective person, and this might draw her to Lily. She might also recognise Lily, like herself, as being someone who has difficulties fitting in socially, so could well be connecting with her for this reason.

I would imagine that when Lily is out of control, loud and chaotic, she would want to calm her down in order to make the environment around her calmer, and I would also imagine there are many parts of the day when she would need time out from Lily’s company.

Remember, we are only shown short extracts over about 45 minutes on each main show, and considering the number of people in there, and the number of interactions that would occur over a 24 hour period, a full picture of what is happening will be unknown to us.

It is true, but there are exceptions.

Those who are on the autistic spectrum may have behaviours that challenge, more often than not it's a way of communicating.

73% of Boomer males: "No matter what psychological challenges I face, I will
not let them define me."

72% of Gen Z females: "Mental illness is an important part of my identity."



https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GZoTle4b...jpg&name=small

My daughter isn’t on a reality television show

As to being judged we all do it every second of the day

Don’t you dare try to undermine my experience of the system and those on it

Well she mentioned forming an ' alliance ' with Nathan. I wish they'd show more of her conversations with the other guys. I heard that she's speaking more to them on live feed , hopefully it makes some of the HL tonight.

If it's so unknown to us, why are you totally disregarding peoples opinions about ali, and her level of adhd, when you've not had the full.picture either:shrug:.

Does Ali joke? Why so serious!!
 

Oddly enough I do volunteer forestry work and help out at an animal sanctuary … pot bellied pigs , horses, donkeys, goats ( so many goats ) lambs, geese , ducks and various types of chickens

Oh and cats and a dawg


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She's not on the autism spectrum though

She has ADHD. There is a difference between the two even though they're both neurological conditions.

It would help if people could stop saying she has autism when those words never came out her mouth.

I stand to be corrected.

Apparently she's diagnosed with ADHD and also exhibits autistic traits
https://www.ladbible.com/news/health...84106-20241009

Ah, I missed what she said them

They can go hand in hand and symptoms can he present.

First time I've heard it called AuDHD

Does Ali joke? Why so serious!!
 

Interesting

I have both also ( plus dyslexia) but this is the first I have heard of the term AuDHD


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…it’s interesting that each condition massively contradict each other as one is more based in structure and order….whereas with ADHD…it’s more spontaniety and chaos, if you like…

That’s precisely why its sooooo exhausting and frustrating !


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…you are diagnosed with both conditions, Zizu…?…

Initially Dyslexia , then later on Aspergers and more recently ADHD


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Does Ali joke? Why so serious!!
 

Our son and daughter are both ADHD and I have to live with that guilt


There are some positives but they are massively outweighed by the negatives



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…do you have any therapies or coaching etc in managing your conditions in terms of the conflicting way they must present and the impact that will have on you…?…

Yeah but that's not your fault, I don't know what the chances are...but it isn't always genetic / hereditary.

I have been given many strategies / coping methods over the years- some work


Life is exasperating and exhausting whilst being wonderfully amazing at the same time..


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…it’s part of who they are and hopefully they manage it within their lifestyles and have happy and fulfilled lives…guilt isn’t something that should be felt, you’re big part of why they exist and that’s a wonderful thing…I’m sure that’s what they feel…

I cant say what the official figures are but in my 30 years of working with autistic teenagers I haven’t met one who didn’t have an autistic parent ( sometimes two ) - usually the dads


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…yeah coping mechanisms and strategies aren’t a cure, I understand that…but managing also helps to understand and create preventatives, doesn’t it…Im sure that it is very exhausting but I’m glad that you have great joy through that exhaustion as well…

Does Ali joke? Why so serious!!
 

Oh yes ..

They are both successful but are stress heads
Both married with kids … who are showing signs..

None of us know the meaning of relaxation for instance .. it’s just not an option.


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Apologies people
I never intended to hog the thread but for all my failings .. if they found a cure I wouldn’t want it

[emoji4]


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It's interesting zizu.

Thank you


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…stress heading is quite popular in the world today I think for everyone but I understand what you’re saying…I do though think that a misplaced feeling of guilt probably guides you much more than you need to allow it to…I know you’ve mentioned your children from time to time and I know how proud you are of them …that’s all you need to feel, the wonderful lives that you’ve been a part of and journeyed with …:love:..

…:love:…

You are too kind .. thank you


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Really ... that's interesting, because what about all those kids & teens who are diagnosed on the spectrum,but their parents don't seem to have any of the conditions themselves ? .

But now thinking about it , could it be the parents I'm talking about have never been diagnosed full stop ,or they just don't have the same symptoms etc...but could still be on the spectrum. It's a difficult one.

Maybe more research needs to be done, but I've noticed more & more young people these days are being diagnosed with either autism or ADHD or both.

I wonder if the parents took drugs in the 90s

Well not in my case


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It probably doesn't help the world is ridiculously fast-paced compared to what it used to be. Probably more than it needs to be. And everywhere we turn, something thrown at our feet to worry about or hold anxiety over. Western culture is preoccupied with fear and anxiety these days. If you speak a language that doesn't intersect with the English-speaking world, then it's even more blatant. Everyday, something we must be afraid of... cancer in our bodies, pollutants in the air, financial pressures, climate change... and then people who do have these conditions face their own personal pressures, especially hard at a young age when the brain is still deep in its formation stages... and the younger folk already face waaay too much pressure, imo. Like they're expected to fix things that they certainly are not being given the resources the fix, much less given the space to grow in their own way so that they can even think about tangibly attacking these major problems... much less even basic ones.

I don't think parents or practitioners can really make the world less scary. That's always been a pipe dream. But what we can do is not throw so many obstacles in their way... that's more my concern. I think we the adults need to grow up first before we can start heaping more pressure on the children. I know there's a tendency to pick at the weaknesses in the young, the types of things they're been surrounded by, the habits they're forming... well, guess what, I still hear lots of whinging from just my own generation, and I feel like until that entitlement streak stops, then we can't be major players in assisting the young forward... and if they get it wrong often, well... maybe look in the mirror... we are not great role models, is what I'm trying to say...

This was my TED talk.

Anyway, I don't want to infantilize the HMs. I feel like wherever Ali is neurologically, it's perfectly fine to just judge her as another player in the game. But I guess leave room for strange errors as far as relating to others... on the thread topic, it's not very important to me that she is able to joke or not. With the right company and relationships built in the house, she doesn't need to be the primary entertainment, but a supporting role. We've seen many cases where such an HM makes it through to the final only to grab the win. Whatever I may think of her potential motives (I have her on a solid yellow on the gameplayer radar...), I would not suggest she changes anything about how she's playing the game atm... she's doing really well, in that aspect, because she's forcing us all to guess her actual motives and we're mostly unable to come up with anything. Obviously it's keeping our interest.

Both ADHD and Autism are highly genetic, research already suggests up to 80%. There are also other factors at play such as complications during birth.

You also have to account for masking, women do it better than men. It's a coping technique.

I would suggest that the 'parents' have mastered the art of that. I would also say that if you're not very aware of subtle signs it may pass you.

Better diagnosing.... It's quite jew, autism used to be called schizophrenia and they were known as mentally ill patients......a lot of them would bite, you know what they did? They took your teeth out!! You'd be in a psychiatric asylum... I work in the 'industry'.... lve supported older generations and you can see the signs of institutional abuse (guarding their food etc)... Anyway going off on a tangent, but basically we are better equipped to diagnose, although lately you'll be lucky if anything can be done and a diagnosis can take years

Autism really isn't textbook. If you have met one autistic person, then you have met ONE. Yes, there's a lot of similarities, but not always.

It's quite comprehensive.... Then add in co-morbidities.

Am I the only one that finds Izaaz phony?:laugh:

I'm not saying that he is a horrible person, but he does seem to be a bit of a drip.

It's like the Hunger Games just started and somebody had to snap him out of it to get his sword & shield... "hey dude, this a game... you playin'?"

Same here, I'm just enjoying the Show and the Forum.:laugh:

Did he not say he wanted to remain neutral…then went and spilled the beans to Ali :shrug: