1. Foundation Learning Dept
What is Autism?
Foundation Learning Dept

2. If someone uses a wheelchair you know they have difficulty walking.
If someone has a Guide Dog you know they have difficulty seeing.

3. Autism is a difficulty that you cannot see.
People with autism find it hard to know what to talk about.
They can find it hard to play games or pretend.

4. Or may repeat what you say
A person with Autism may not talk in the same way as you. They don’t mean to be rude!
They may not talk at all....
Or may repeat what you say

5. They may talk over and over about the same things.....
such as trains
....or dinosaurs or something else.

6. People with autism find it hard to know if someone is joking.
So it is better to say exactly what you mean..
‘it is raining hard’
not ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’.

7. What do these faces show?

8. People with Autism find it difficult to understand faces.

9. Young people are taught to say please and thank you and to be polite.
Rules like those are difficult for people with autism to learn. They may say things without meaning to be rude.

10. All young people may make the wrong choices sometimes
All young people may make the wrong choices sometimes. People with Autism may not realise they are making the wrong choice.

11. Young people with Autism may need your help to show them how to play
Young people with Autism may need your help to show them how to play. You may need to explain the rules more than once!

12. People with Autism often don’t like things including loud noises, some smells or bright lights.

13. They also don’t like things to change.

14. Young people with Autism want friends and classmates who understand them!

15. Being Autism Aware shows it’s cool to be different!

16. Finally, all of these people have Autistic Spectrum Conditions
Finally, all of these people have Autistic Spectrum Conditions! Thank you for listening!