Understanding Autism
Being autistic can be described as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This means there are differences in how a person’s brain develops and functions.
Different names can be used to talk about autism including:
We will use the word autism or autistic in this leaflet.
People’s brains can work differently for lots of different reasons.
When your brain works differently you can be described as neurodivergent.
If you are autistic, it means your brain works differently.
We do not know why autistic brains work differently. Working differently does not mean a person’s brain works less well.
Being autistic means having differences in two main areas:
Social communication and interaction
This could include differences in:
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Understanding and using speech and other forms of communication, for example making eye contact, using gesture and facial expression
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Talking with other people
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Understanding other people’s thoughts and feelings
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Understanding social rules
Restricted, repetitive and inflexible patterns of thought and behaviour
This could include:
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Spending a lot of time on interests you are passionate about
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Preferring things to stay the same
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Repeating the same hand or body movements
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Sensory differences
If you are autistic these differences will be present throughout your life but may present differently at different times.
Every autistic person is different. Every person will have their own strengths and differences.
‘If you have met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person’
Dr Stephen Shore, autistic professor
It can be useful to find out about autism because it can help you to:
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Understand yourself and your experiences
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Learn more about the experiences of other autistic people
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Think about what is helpful and what is not helpful for you
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Develop skills and strategies to use when you need them
Some autistic people will need support, some autistic people will not. The support needed is also likely to change, as the person changes.
We have included some information that you may find useful. Some are links to webpages, and some provide information about available books.