What is Autism?

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 people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives, but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of special support. People with autism may also experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colors.

People with autism 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. 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 the people with autism share are sometimes known as the ‘triad of impairments.’ They are:

1. Difficulty with social communication

2. Difficulty with social interaction

3. Difficulty with social imagination

It can be hard to create awareness of autism as people with the condition do not look disabled. Parents of children with autism often say that other people simply think their child is naughty, while adults find that they are misunderstood. All people with autism can benefit from a timely diagnosis and access to appropriate services and support.