Autism
What is autism?
Autism is a natural difference in the way a person's brain develops and works.
An autistic person may think, communicate, learn, play and experience the world differently from someone who is not autistic.
Autism is a form of neurodivergence. This simply means that someone's brain works differently from what is considered typical.
A person is born autistic and will be autistic throughout their life. Autism is not an illness, it is not something somebody catches, and it is not caused by vaccines or poor parenting.
Many autistic people prefer the term “autistic person” rather than “person with autism”, although everyone should be able to choose the language they prefer for themselves.
Autism is a spectrum
You might hear people describe autism as a spectrum.
This does not mean that there is a simple line from “a little autistic” to “very autistic”.
Instead, every autistic person has their own combination of strengths, differences and support needs.
For example, one autistic person might find noise extremely difficult but cope well with changes to plans. Another might enjoy noisy environments but need lots of preparation before something changes.
Some autistic people need a great deal of everyday support, while others need less visible support. A person's support needs can also change depending on the situation, environment and how they are feeling.
No two autistic people are exactly alike.
Knowing one autistic person does not tell you what another autistic person will be like.
Communication
Autistic people may communicate differently.
Some autistic people use spoken language. Others may use very little or no speech, or communicate using AAC, communication devices, pictures, signs, writing or gestures.
Someone who can usually speak may also find that speech becomes difficult or unavailable when they are overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted or under pressure.
Autistic people may:
understand language literally
find sarcasm, hints or unclear instructions confusing
need extra processing time before answering
prefer written communication
communicate very directly
find eye contact uncomfortable
use facial expressions or body language differently
talk enthusiastically about subjects that interest them.
Different communication is still communication.
Sensory differences
Many autistic people experience sensory information differently.
Things that seem ordinary to one person may feel very intense to an autistic person.
This can include:
Sounds – alarms, hand dryers, crowds, music or people talking.
Light – fluorescent lights, bright sunshine or flashing lights.
Touch – clothing labels, certain fabrics, unexpected touch or particular textures.
Smell – perfume, food, cleaning products or other strong smells.
Taste and texture – certain foods or combinations of foods.
Movement and balance – needing lots of movement or finding some movement uncomfortable.
A person may be hypersensitive, meaning they notice sensations very strongly, or hyposensitive, meaning they notice them less and may actively seek more sensory input.
Stimming
Stimming means repetitive movements, sounds or actions.
It might include:
rocking
hand flapping
pacing
spinning
humming
repeating words or sounds
tapping
fiddling with an object
bouncing
moving fingers.
Stimming can help an autistic person regulate emotions, concentrate, express excitement or cope with sensory information.
It does not usually need to be stopped simply because it looks different.
Routines and predictability
Some autistic people feel safer when things are predictable.
Unexpected changes can be difficult because the person has already prepared their brain for what they expected to happen.
Helpful things can include:
visual timetables, warnings before transitions, countdowns, clear instructions and explaining changes in advance.
A change that seems very small to somebody else can sometimes feel very big to an autistic person.
Interests
Autistic people can have strong or passionate interests.
These might last for a short period or continue for many years.
An interest could be almost anything — dinosaurs, trains, animals, books, gaming, history, weather, numbers, characters, art or a particular television programme.
These interests can provide joy, comfort, knowledge, connection and regulation.
They can also be fantastic ways to support learning.
Meltdowns and shutdowns
Being overwhelmed can sometimes lead to a meltdown or shutdown.
A meltdown is not the same as a tantrum.
During a meltdown, someone has become so overwhelmed that they are temporarily unable to regulate what is happening.
They might cry, shout, move intensely or need to escape.
During a shutdown, someone might instead become very quiet, withdraw, stop responding or find communication difficult.
Both can be signs that the person's nervous system has experienced too much information, demand, emotion or sensory input.
The person needs safety, understanding and time to recover, rather than punishment.
Masking
Some autistic people learn to hide or suppress autistic characteristics to fit in with the people around them. This is called masking.
Someone might:
copy other people's behaviour,
force themselves to make eye contact,
hide stimming,
rehearse conversations,
copy facial expressions,
or pretend that sensory experiences are not bothering them.
This can mean someone appears to be “coping” even when they are finding things extremely difficult.
Masking can be exhausting and stressful. It can also make autism harder to recognise, particularly in people whose autistic characteristics do not match traditional stereotypes.
Autism and learning
Autism is not a learning disability.
Some autistic people also have a learning disability, but many do not. Autistic people can have a wide range of intellectual and academic abilities.
An autistic child might also be very capable academically while needing significant support with things such as:
sensory regulation, communication, executive functioning, transitions, emotional regulation or everyday living skills.
Ability in one area does not tell us how much support somebody needs in another.
Autism and other neurodivergence
Autistic people can also have other differences or conditions.
These can include:
ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, learning disabilities and epilepsy.
Autistic people are also more likely to experience mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression.
Someone who is both autistic and ADHD may sometimes describe themselves as AuDHD.
Strengths
Autism should not only be described through difficulties.
Every person is different, but autistic people may have strengths such as:
deep knowledge of favourite subjects, creativity, honesty, attention to detail, pattern recognition, strong memory, determination, logical thinking, unusual perspectives and passionate interests.
Not every autistic person will have these strengths — just as not every autistic person experiences the same difficulties.
The important thing is to understand the individual person, rather than expecting them to match an autism stereotype.
Supporting an autistic person
Good support is about asking:
“What does this person need?”
rather than:
“How can we make them behave more normally?”
Helpful support might include clear communication, extra processing time, predictable routines, sensory adjustments, quiet spaces, visual information, movement breaks, reduced demands and different ways to communicate.
It is also important to listen to autistic people themselves.
Sometimes the environment needs to change to meet the person, rather than expecting the person to constantly change to cope with the environment.
Autism in the UK
In the UK, autism can be diagnosed in children, young people and adults.
An autism assessment usually involves specialist professionals looking at someone's development, communication, behaviour, experiences and support needs. The process is different depending on someone's age and where they live.
A diagnosis can help someone understand themselves and may help identify appropriate support and reasonable adjustments.
Importantly, people can still have support needs before or without a formal diagnosis.
Remember
Autistic people are not all the same.
Different communication is still communication.
Behaviour often communicates a need.
Support needs can change.
Being able to do something does not always mean it is easy.
And being different does not mean being less. 💜
For reliable UK information and support, the NHS autism information and National Autistic Society are good places to signpost families alongside your own resources.