Autism awareness

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.

Some people with ASD may have learning difficulties and limited language skills while others may have average to above average intelligence.

There are three main areas of difficulty common to all ASD diagnoses. These are difficulties with:

  • social interaction
  • social communication
  • difficulties thinking flexibly.

In addition many people with an ASD have a different perception of sound, sight, smell, touch and taste. They might also have coordination and planning difficulties and unusual sleep and behaviour patterns.

All the above difficulties mean that people with an ASD are often highly anxious from trying to make sense of the world and this may have an effect on their behaviour.

We've created the guides below for anyone unused to dealing with people who have autism. Knowing what causes challenging behaviour can help you to develop ways of dealing with this.

See also:

Acrobat (PDF)
Understanding me - Autism (1098k)
A guide to help businesses and public services provide better customer care to people with autism. (large-print, 27 pages)
Sensory issues in autism (606k)
From our Autism and Practice Group. A useful booklet describing how autistic people can view things differently, in their own words. Includes a reading list. (22 pages)