About Autism
This page will provide information about autism and explain some of the common characteristics and learning attributes associated with individuals who have autism.
What is Autism?
- Estimated 700,000 people with Autism in the UK
- 1 in 6 people with autism have a full time job
- Children with Autism are 3 times more likely to be excluded
Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability. The landmark 2009 Autism Act has raised greater public awareness of hidden disabilities like autism. At SEND Aid we recognise the incredible work that has already been done in this field of work but also recognise that much more needs to be done to make local and international services accessible for individuals and familiy members living with autism. This is why SEND Aid has made Autism our initial priority focus. We are passionate and determined to support and contribute towards future developments in this area.
Common Characteristics:
- Difficulty communicating and interacting with the world and others
- Sometimes not speaking at all, taking time to process information or not understanding facial expressions
- taking things literally and not understanding abstract concepts
- needing extra time to process information or answer questions
- repeating what others say to them (this is called echolalia)
- Repetitive behaviour – sometimes for fun other times to overcome anxiety
- Each autistic person has their own strengths and challenges
- Unexpected changes however small very disturbing
- Sensory overloaded can also be very difficult and overwhelming – smell, noise, touch and bright lights
- Making it hard to understand the world and sometimes sending people into physical and mental meltdown and shutdown
- Early diagnosis and support is vital – life can be very difficult without the right support and understanding
Learning:
- Intense and highly focused interests (often from a young age)
- Become experts in their special interests – stereotypical example train, can be environment, etc.
- Like all people, huge pleasure from pursuing interests seeing them as fundamental to wellbeing and happiness
- Being highly focused helps many autistic people do well academically and in the workplace but they can also become so engrossed in particular topics or activities that they neglect other aspects of their lives.
- It is very important that autistic people learn to recognise their triggers and find coping mechanisms to help reduce their anxiety.
- However, many autistic people have difficulty recognising and regulating their emotions.
- Over one third of autistic people have serious mental health issues and too many autistic people are being failed by mental health services.
- Meltdowns – This loss of control can be verbal (eg shouting, screaming, crying) or physical (eg kicking, lashing out, biting) or both. Meltdowns in children are often mistaken for temper tantrums
- Shutdown – eg an autistic person going quiet or ‘switching off’.
Social Interaction:
- appear to be insensitive
- seek out time alone when overloaded by other people
- not seek comfort from other people
- appear to behave ‘strangely’ or in a way thought to be socially inappropriate
- find it hard to form friendships.
Repetitive and Restrictive Behaviour
- Routines to know what is going on
- Travel same way to school, work, etc., wear same clothes, eat exactly the same food for breakfast, etc.
- Repeat movements – hand flapping, rocking, repetitive use of an object such as twirling a pen, opening and closing doors, etc.
- Engage in such behaviour to calm themselves down – stressed or anxious or for fun
- Change to routine can be very distressing
- Big events (i.e. Christmaas) or changing school, or small event like a bus detour can cause anxiety.
Source of reference: www.autism.org.uk