What is Autism

What is Autism

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference.  Autism is considered to be a “spectrum condition” but where an autistic person is on the spectrum can vary from day to day, depending on the situation and the challenges they face.   Autistic people are individuals and will find different levels of challenge in each aspect of life, this can sometimes be referred to as a “spikey profile”.

Autism affects people differently.  Many autistic people live independent lives as they grow up, whilst others might have more complex difficulties needing ongoing care as they move into adulthood. It is important to note that an autistic person living an independent life may portray on the outside that they are managing well but could find their life very challenging, this is often referred to as “masking”.

The National Autistic Society shares that more than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK. This short video from the National Autistic Society provides overview of what Autism is, how it can affect people in different ways and what it can mean for you and your family.

Autism affects the way a person communicates and interacts with others. Repetitive behaviours, intense interests, sensory differences and difficulties managing change are also features. Children with Autism might find communication difficult, avoid eye contact and be more sensitive to tastes, smells or sounds. Autistic people will often have intense interests.  These interests can be a lifeline for autistic people as they can feel like are a safe subject to talk about and can make conversations easier.   

“It’s almost like you’re a different person when talking about your specialist interest. You end up really absorbing yourself in what you are talking about and that is such a great feeling. You find you think less about social expectations and more about just focusing on what you care so dearly about. Having people who are willing to listen to you talking about these, sometimes very specific, interests is so important for autistic people”, Sam, Young Autism Advocate.

More information about on signs of autism in children can provide more detail on signs of autism for children and as they get older. The way autistic affects a person’s life is highly individual and there may be elements of all of the autistic traits listed or there might only be elements of a few of them.

“Without being autistic I wouldn’t be me.. I wouldn’t have such a breadth of skills and niche knowledge. I wouldn’t be able to see the world from a different perspective where I can see things no one else around me can. Being autistic almost certainly comes with a whole host of challenges within day-to-day life, but if I wasn’t autistic, I wouldn’t be who I am and that’s so important to remember”. Sam, Young Autism Advocate.

Content within this section of Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, provide more information support available at home, education and in health services, information about Autism & ADHD Assessments and activities accessible within Gloucestershire.

Autism mind map diagram, in a pink artistic style (Created by Emily -@ItsEmilyKaty). Information illustrates that Autism can involve: Challenges understanding social situations, Literal blunt/honest communication, Intense interests and in-depth knowledge about subjects, Anxiety over uncertainty or change in plans or routine, sensory sensitivities such as to loud noise, Black and white or fixed thinking patterns, Difficulty regulating or understanding emotions, Finding busy places or lots of people overwhelming

Image created by Emily,@ItsEmilyKaty

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