What is Autism?

What is Autism? Autism is a lifelong developmental disability

What is Autism? It effects three areas: Communication Understanding Imagination

What is Autism? There is no known cause Research is ongoing

What is Autism? Autism is a hidden disability - you can't always tell if someone has it

What is Autism? Affects the way a person communicates and relates to the people around them

What is Autism? They find it hard to make friendships as they have difficulty understanding other people's emotions

What is Autism? There is no link between autism and the MMR injection

What is Autism? May be sensitive to: Smells Sounds Touch

What is Autism? May have difficulties with: Understanding danger Sleeping Eating (limited variety) Self care skills

Statistics There are over half a million people in the UK with autism Approximately 1:100

Statistics It is more common in boys than girls

Statistics One in five children with autism has been excluded from school, many more than once

Statistics Over 40% of children with autism have been bullied at school

Statistics Autism doesn't just affect children. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism

What can we do? While autism is incurable, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to peoples lives

What can we do? Be understanding if they are having problems when out in the community

What can we do? Remember they are not being naughty, they are trying to make sense of a world they sometimes find confusing

What can we do? Talk about Autism. The more people who know and understand it, the easier it will be for our children when out in the community

“…an autistic child can be helped only if a serious attempt is made to see the world from his point of view…” Lorna Wing (1980)

“The autistic child is unable to bring order to his world “The autistic child is unable to bring order to his world. You must provide that order.” Temple Grandin, a person with autism

Autism is… “Like trying to learn a complicated dance, when you do not know what dancing is, when you cannot hear the music and when, just as you have managed to imitate one step of your partners, you find that the dance has moved on, the rhythm has changed and so (perhaps) has your partner.” Rita Jordan and Stuart Powell