Between March 27th and April 3rd, the National Autistic Society will be hosting their annual World Autism Acceptance Week. Each year, the week seeks to increase public understanding of autism, raising awareness of autism-related causes while increasing support for related groups and initiatives. There are a number of ways for individuals and groups to get involved with these activities, from hosting their own events to simply helping spread awareness, especially since, despite the prevalence of autism, many areas of society continue to fall short when considering the additional needs and acceptance required.

What Is Autism

Autism is a spectrum condition that can present as a variety of different weaknesses and strengths. Typically, autism is associated with social challenges, with autistic people being challenged to understand the verbal and non-verbal cues that others present to them, especially in cases of sarcasm. Additionally, autistic people can face difficulties with their own speech. There are, however, a great number of ways in which autism can present itself.

Other aspects include being overwhelmed by a sensitivity toward sounds and visuals, as well as tastes, scents, and even temperatures. While many of us might be able to easily adapt to various environments, certain elements, such as music or light, can cause stress and anxiety for autistic people. There is also a common preference for repetition within autistic communities, and a favour for routine. This is because unexpected occurrences can lead to anxiousness, prompting autistic people to favour a set routine so as to minimise digressions and discomforts.

Understanding Needs

These neurological differences are often misinterpreted and misunderstood by those unfamiliar with autism. Autistic people can, for example, take longer to process information, interpret abstract concepts more literally, and even demonstrate apparent indifference or insensitivity. This can lead to difficulty in social environments, especially when others are not able to accommodate their actions accordingly. 

Even simple adjustments to social practices, such as allowing others time to process information and following an autistic person’s direction (as opposed to trying to direct them) in conversation, can make significant differences to the comfort and well-being of autistic individuals. Autism, however, can be invisible, so it can be difficult for others to adapt their mannerisms accordingly, especially when autism awareness is still relatively low.

Raising Awareness

One in every hundred people in the UK is understood to have some form of autism, meaning that there are over 700,000 autistic people. This ubiquity highlights the importance of our society and population being able to accommodate additional needs. 70% of autistic children, for example, feel that their education experience could be improved if teachers had a better understanding of autism. Additionally, only 21.7% of autistic adults are in any form of paid employment, which is the lowest figure for those with additional needs or a disability.

Recent studies have shown that autism figures are rising and it is estimated that one in every fifty-seven children is on the autistic spectrum. This figure, however, is likely due to a growing awareness of autistic traits among parents and teachers, which can be seen as positive progress for the autistic community.

It is important to remember that autism is not a disease and should not be approached with any notions of needing to be “cured”. Instead, it is society’s responsibility to expand its welcome to neurodivergent and autistic individuals, enabling those who think differently to feel the same levels of comfort and acceptance as others.

Bristol Counselling And Psychotherapy

If you’d like to talk to us about any issues or experiences related to autism, our team can be contacted via email at hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk. Alternatively, we can be contacted by phone at 07751 271709.