#autismthink Twitter – please tweet

What do you think about with the word disability? Physical, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement Learning disability

Less prelevent disabilities Mental healthNeurological

Living with an invisible disability By Stephen Ben Morris Contents: 1. About Autism 2. Disability or difference? 3. Breaking down stigma and stereotypes 4. Hidden skills 5. Conclusion

What is Autism?

What is Autism?  Disability, Condition or Disorder?  Often classified as a hidden disability,  Affects : social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour.  Large Spectrum from nonverbal to High Functioning (including Aspergers),  Often more or less sensitive to sensory issues,  Autism often coincides with mental heath issues or learning difficulties,  Think in black and white,  Everyone on the spectrum is different.

Disability or Difference?  From my point of view:  Society disables some Autistics,  Only a disability because we are in the minority,  Neurodiverse – we think differently,  Mimicking – learnt behaviour

Breaking down stigma and stereotypes

Breaking down stereotypes and stigma Myths:  We are all like ‘Rain Man’,  It’s because of bad parenting,  Autism is a kind of eccentricity,  Autistics don’t have feelings and can’t feel empathy,  Autism can be cured,  People know what causes autism,

Breaking down stereotypes and stigma Myths cont…….  We all run off and stimming,  We are criminals,  We can’t make eye contact,  We can’t socially behave, interact and socialise,

Hidden Talent  Treat everyone is an individual,  We live in a Neurotypical World– add a bit of neurodiversity!  Given the opportunity Autistic can strive in any situation and can ‘see out side the box’,  Great attention to detail, loyalty and remembering facts,

Conclusion  Often hard to diagnose someone on the spectrum,  Treat everyone as an individual – we are not a text book,  Focus upon their strengths rather than their weaknesses.  Don’t see the label – see the individual,

Thanks for listening

autism/myths-facts-and- statistics/some-facts-and- statistics.aspx