Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all autistic people share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some autistic people are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People on the autism spectrum may also experience over- or under-sensitivityto sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.
Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language. Our website has more information about Asperger syndrome, or you can order a leaflet from our online shop.
How do autistic people see the world?
Autistic people have said that the world, to them, is a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of, and which can cause them considerable anxiety.
In particular, understanding and relating to other people, and taking part in everyday family and social life may be harder for them. Other people appear to know, intuitively, how to communicate and interact with each other, and some autistic people may wonder why they are 'different'.
About autism
Autism is part of the autism spectrum and is sometimes referred to as an autism spectrum disorder, or an ASD.
The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the 'triad of impairments'. They are:
- difficulty with social communication
- difficulty with social interaction
- difficulty with social imagination.
These are described in more detail on page 2.
It can be hard to create awareness of autism as people with the condition do not 'look' disabled: parents of autistic children often say that other people simply think their child is naughty; while adults find that they are misunderstood.
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