The vulnerabilities, risks and gender identity issues experienced by young people on the autism spectrum By Ann Memmott Autism Consultant & Vice Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group for Autism – Advisory Board & Senior Trainer – Autism Oxford UK

What is autism? Different brain design, from birth. Not a mental health condition. 1 in every 30 people of every age, sort and intelligence. Some bits of the brain are super-connected, others underconnected. Great strengths and challenges involved.

Four Main General Things: Huge need for routine or predictability. Can’t understand or use body language and eye contact the way others do. 8 out of 10 think in pictures, not words. It gets confusing when people use expressions, e.g. “Pull your socks up” 8 out of 10 have sensory differences – sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, balance, heat, cold. Brain can’t switch any of it off, ever. Can be overwhelming. “Gosh, that let the cat out of the bag!”

About Autism Half of autistic people are female. It’s not bad behaviour, choice, laziness or rudeness 8 out of 10 are victims of bullying, abuse and violence Normal range of empathy – but cannot see faces well enough to detect mood. May take time to say a response. Very truthful, can be very naive. Opposite of manipulative. Only 1.6% of autistic people are in care homes. Most are more like me. It’s not true that autism = learning difficulty. No more likely than anyone else. Asperger syndrome is not ‘mild autism’, it’s pure autism – and can be moderate or severe.

Vulnerabilities Difficulties seeing face expressions and body language Vulnerabilities Difficulties seeing face expressions and body language. Many are faceblind too (I am). Maybe we don’t know it’s you. Makes building relationships harder, for those affected

Real brain design difference On the left, an autistic brain. On the right, a non-autistic brain. Both in a brain scanner. Both were talking about a social situation. Ours gets hotter, faster. Eventually, extreme pain/exhaustion. Can cause ‘electric shock’, like epilepsy. Episode of shutdown or meltdown. Not ‘temper tantrum’. Not in the person’s control at all. The person becomes vulnerable during such incidents.

Different sensory system What you may see…..and what an autistic person might see. Exhausting and overwhelming. Plus intense sound detail, smell, touch, taste. Can’t hear one voice in a crowd (no brain wiring for that). Will need to rest occasionally, in a quiet place.

Extremely literal. Will believe what we’re told “I am your friend. This is normal in a relationship. Yes it’s OK for me to do this to you”. Immensely vulnerable, immensely likely to be victims of crime/set up by criminals. Most are victims of fraud. Often by ‘friends’

Extremely vulnerable. Examples - females: More than 70% victims of sexual assault 30% victims of rape 80% victims of bullying. 9 times more likely to attempt suicide, after these experiences

Self reported ongoing poll on website ‘Wrong Planet’, whose members are mostly autistic. awareness • training • consultancy T 01844 353 292 W www.autismoxford.org.uk

Gender identities in autism Male/female – 74.6% Gender-queer / Neuroqueer/Other – 19.2% Transgender – 3.6% Vulnerabilities to bullying, self esteem George & Stokes 2015 awareness • training • consultancy T 01844 353 292 W www.autismoxford.org.uk

Reporting Concerns - Example Concern raised over behaviour of an individual towards very vulnerable young autistic individuals in care homes. Older male. Repeat visits, lots of over-friendliness, standing behind them, pressing up against them and reaching round them to move their hands. Not a therapist. Claiming it is part of a theraupeutic ‘technique’. Reported for investigation. Authorities never responded. How do we work together in better ways to spot and stop people who may be predators?

Challenges in giving evidence and being believed Often excellent witnesses, if enabled correctly. Many Autistic people cannot use the phone as a tool of communication. Some are non-verbal all the time. Some are non-verbal some of the time. Text numbers and email address must be available Response times to text and email are as vital – they are a very real communication. Drawing may be useful. In person, may not make eye contact, may look ‘shifty’. May not be able to talk directly. May be delayed in emotional responses to a situation. Think about the sensory environment. Explain what will happen. Keep questions short. Keep to time.

Questions Thank you Ann Memmott, national consultant Working with Autism Oxford UK