The long, silent scream (of a parent/carer).

Purpose -- This paper seeks to present the viewpoint of a family carer of a young man with autism. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper presents the author's views and experiences of caring for a family member with autism. It is a personal account of the impact that "autism" can have on family carers. Findings -- It is a long, arduous, lonely and silent journey that carers travel, long before any recognition comes with diagnosis. Originality/value -- The paper provides a unique insight into the day to day experiences of a family carer of a person with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]