About autism
Autism is a complex lifelong condition that affects how a person sees and understands the world and how they communicate and interact socially. Like other neuro-diverse conditions, autism isn’t visible, which can make it difficult to understand and acknowledge.
With the right structured support, education and care, children and adults with autism can live a full and independent life.
Did you know?
Roughly 1% of the UK population is born with autism. That’s around 700,000 people. However, that figure may be much higher if you consider that it’s based only on those people that have received a diagnosis. Not everyone is diagnosed.
Autism can affect:
Communication – where words, gestures, tones of voice and facial expressions can be confusing and open to misinterpretation.
Social relationships – autistic children and adults can often be indifferent to other people, friends and even their parents / carers and they may struggle to make friends.
Processing – abstract ideas, imaginative thought and activities are affected, which means that autistic people can face difficulties in making sense of their experiences.
Sensory – some autistic people can be under or over sensitive to sounds, smells, touch, taste, and textures. Lights, for example, can be too bright, sounds can be too loud, and touch can be painful.
Autism in women and girls
The presentation of autism spectrum conditions can be different in women and girls. It can often be missed, or misdiagnosed, as the diagnostic systems have traditionally focused on young males. However, thankfully, times are changing and in recent years we’ve begun to see conversations around autism gradually opening up in the media.
Mental health and autism
Stress, anxiety and depression are common among people with autism. Being able to access the right mental health support at the right time is important for both the individual and for their families.
Want to know more? Why not join one of our training workshops about autism and mental health? We offer courses for parents, carers and professionals.
Alternatively, please contact us at: training@aem.org.uk