Our vision
is a world where all people on the autism spectrum have the specialist care and support they need to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.
About this page
In this section you will find information about Autism
Photo: Young person with Asperger syndrome on a work placement through our Aspire program
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► About Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a life-long condition which affects people’s understanding of the world and of other people. Everyone with autism is different, and the ‘autism spectrum’ covers a huge range. Some people with autism can lead independent lives. Others need lifelong care. In the middle, there are many thousands of people with autism who need some degree of help.
Autism affects at least one person in a hundred – so there are more than half a million people with autism in the UK. The main characteristic is lessened or absent ability to make sense of the world. That means that the world can seem a threatening place, and people with autism often demand very rigid routines. It is not clear whether the routines are a way of making life manageable through a self-imposed structure, or whether a fixation on routine is an innate characteristic of the condition.
People with autism also tend to have difficulty relating to other people. They tend to miss the ‘social clues’ that others readily pick up. An example would be a conversation: normally, people will know when it is ‘their turn’ to speak. Someone with autism may be unusually silent, or, once he or she starts talking, may carry on talking for much longer than normal. People with autism therefore have to learn the mechanics of conversation in a way that most people do not.
About half of all people with autism have average or above-average intelligence. The other half will have below average intelligence, and this may be linked to learning disability or to mental of physical disability. Autism is not a mental illness, but people with autism may develop mental illness because of the strain of adapting to society. That is why specialist autism support is so important in preserving mental health and supporting achievement.
No matter where on the autism spectrum someone happens to be, their chances of a happy and fulfilling life are greatly increased by early diagnosis and early professional support.
Key facts about autism
- Autism affects more than one person in every hundred
- It is more common in males than females, though improved diagnosis suggests that the gap is narrower than has been thought
- It can be a hidden disability, because many people with autism are no different in appearance from anyone else
- It is a lifelong condition, but the quality of life can be enormously improved with the right care and support
- Early diagnosis is key to getting the right support
- People with autism can be very sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, touch or the sensations caused by what they see.
