I have just read my sister's review of Tony Attwood's book The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome , and very powerful it is too, I was so proud to discover that my brother Michael was one of the very first to be diagnosed and have the recognition that he had Autism and was not deemed Mentally Insane.

Having met Michael I know that he has terrible problems, but to consider that he was diagnosed himself by Hans Asperger in late 1971 as was my younger brother Daniel, that to me is a wonderful piece of history for us here in the western world. My sister told me this when I called to thank her for her review and is planning to write a series of articles for us on living with family members and working with people on all parts of the Autism Spectrum disorder.

Please read her review on Tony Attwood's Book 'The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome'

A few weeks ago I went to meet my Irish birth father and my real family.

This all came about because of a letter in my adopted mothers' medical notes and also my medical notes, which refered to having a birth brother having been diagnosed in 1972 with Autism. Nothing had been done about it, by my adopted parents. To my horror when I discovered it, and also the possiblity that one of my grandsons, also another was showing signs - I wanted to find out the truth. If you have seen my first article of news on me about being diagnosed at age 56. Since my diagnosis, I have had two grandchildren diagnosed with autism, also one son and another who is thinking about getting tested.

I had been writing to my birth parents since 1998, finally I got a reply to one of my letters that had been sent via the adoption society after getting my diagnosis in April. I received a letter just prior to Christmas in 2007. I then received a phone call from my birth sister on Christmas day saying that my Dad Joeseph would like to speak to me and wish me a happy Christmas. My sister Christine had seen the letters when my birth mother had received them but mum wanted to destroy them because she did not want my dad to have his heart broken all over again. Christine kept these letters and when my dad was ready to sort my mothers things out after her death, she showed him the letters and the one which they had received in October about my diagnosis was the one he finally responded to.

My father Joseph and I had, quite a few conversations on the phone and we arranged that I would travel to meet him and my brothers and sisters of which I have six. My eldest brother Patrick (64) is a priest and two others have Autism, Michael(62) and Daniel(50). My twin sisters Christine and Theresa (60) and younger brother Andrew (53). What I find really strange is that the Autism has only come out in two of the boys Michael and Daniel and one girl that being me. I have also established that my birth mother also had major problems with mental health but they did not do the tests on her as it was not done in Ireland on anyone who was already in the mental health system.

I had a fantastic time catching up with what they all do and discovering that my sister Christine is an Autism specific psychologist and works part time at the home where my brothers are residents, she also does other work in the community. I spent a day with Michael and Daniel at their residential home. I have to say they are well provided and cared for. Their home seems to be a great place to live, though it is a really old building, the staff admit it is not the most upto date facillity but everyone is happy, clean and well looked after. Because I spent a whole day with them I was able to see all of the clients doing their own mixed activities.

I found out that I have 3 nephews and 2 nieces who are all married with families. Within the whole family there are six sets of twins, two in the brothers and sisters, my twin having died at the age of 13. Christine was a twin and had twins (Boy and Girl) both alive, I had twins (Boy and Girl) only the boy survived, my son had twins, (Boy and Girl) Girl survived boy lost to cot death at four months and my brother Andrew has a daughter with twins(Boy and Girl) both alive and well. Amazingly it was strange for me to discover that it is my two brothers and I that have the autism and it has gone down through both my son's families but not through my girls, where the autism has come out again.

I saw some amazing places of local interest and also came back with a host of wonderful memories that I will hold close to my heart for many years to come. I now have a real sence of who I am and where my roots come from. I must also say that this has been  a fantastic experience; and I am glad that I made the effort to go and meet and greet the adults of the family, who had such a huge story to tell me about my mum and dad and why everything had happened.

I was also able to show them photos of my twin brother David who Dad rememberd so very well, as one of the two precious bundles he and mum had handed over to the authorities, to be adopted some 57 plus years ago. The other thing I was able to do for them was explain how David had been as my brother and how we were never apart except when at school, we could read each others minds and the day he died I can even now recall the feeling I had, that he was no longer with us even before the authorities gave out the devastating news to the parents of the children who died in that air crash.

Since being home I have had some lovely conversations with my dad and my sisters and the main thrill I think I have to say for them and Dad was that I had been bought up in a Christian family and still have a faith that is as strong to day as it was the day David and I gave our lives to Christ in the early 1960's. My dad said that was the only condition they had put on our adoption forms that we should go to a Christian Church going family, which we did and were very lucky to have had this start in life.

My adoptive parents had David and I both christened at St. George's Church, which is where I sing as a chorister now, having had a great career as a Q.A. Nurse in the Royal Navy, seen the world had a family who have all done well for themselves. My adopted daughter Chealee was a teacher, until she died on May 2nd 2008 leaving a daughter and son both under 3years old. Evanne my daughter is a nursing sister, with two grown up children. John is a warrenty consultant, and has three children one with autism. Katie has two great boys and works in telecommunications. Lastly but not least Matthew is into computors and had three children, two girls and a boy, Matthew is my son and he and his eldest daughter both have Autism.

As you can see there was a terrific lot of catching up to do, and even now I am finding out about more things I had not been told whilst in Ireland. Especially stories of how my brothers' were diagnosed and the difference for them to get their diagnosis and the way I had to fight to get mine.

You will need to watch this space and see what else comes across the phone, email and sanil mail about my Irish family.

June 2008

A team of outreach workers would give me and others like myself the professional help that is available to all residents of 'Hollyrood', the Autism Specific Residential home in Lindfield - if this was available it would be fantastic.

As a 56 year old, I have not had anyone to turn to. This is a very hard place to be when I have the ups and downs of situations that put me into a psychological and mental crisis. Because there are no outreach workers there is no-one to help me get strategies into place to help me cope, except for Vicky (my friend) who understands my situation, because  her daughter, Naomi, is resident in a Hollyrood community home.

For me the idea of a team of outreach workers and a Consultant psychologist, would make my life a great deal easier. It is no good just talking to any psychologist because they do not all understand how to talk to a person with Autism.

As an autistic person, with A-typical Aspergers, because of the way my brain is wired, opposite to most other peoples, I do not see questions and answers the way others do, causing confusion

We really do need to raise the funds so that others and not just myself can get the support and help that we so desperately need