| Living with autism in the family | |
|  | | Too few people understand Taylia's condition |
| | A Plymouth mother is trying to raise awareness of what it means to live with an autistic child.
Shelley Fishwick has been battling to get help for her eleven-year-old daughter Taylia for many, many years. |
| | | A Devon mother is hoping to set up a support group for parents with autistic children
Shelley Fishwick's eleven-year-old daughter Taylia was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome three years ago.
It was a long battle to find out what was wrong with her and to get the help she needed.
She says too few people understand the condition fully; they think her daughter is just being naughty or that her parents were to blame.
Taylia looks older than her years. Many think she's 13 rather than eleven - but she often behaves like a toddler.
She can be a lovely child but lacks simple social skills that most of us take for granted.
 | | Taylia's sister Karis often bears the brunt of her jealous outbursts |
It's her nine-year-old sister Karis who frequently bears the brunt of her angry and often jealous outbursts. Her condition has taken its toll on family life.
It's also meant she hasn't been to school for the last six weeks of the summer term. Her relationship with other local children is such that she's frightened to go outside to play.
Playing in the front garden is a novelty and going to the nearby park is not an option, it's been daubed with graffiti calling her names.
When Taylia is outside in the garden her mum is able to watch her on CCTV - the family has installed cameras so that Shelley can watch out for trouble before it happens.
 | | Taylia is too frightened to go outside to play |
And a simple shopping trip is fraught with problems. Shelley says people stare at Taylia and whisper whenever she plays up.
Since returning to live in Plympton from the Isles of Scilly last year, the Fishwick's have had a long wait for help from social services.
They are now back in the system and hope when Taylia starts a new school in the Autumn things will begin to improve.
Shelley now runs website for parents and is trying to set up a local support group.
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