What is Autism?
Autism is hereditary and understood as a spectrum. Rather than a straight line between ‘more’ and ‘less’ autistic, each autistic person has a unique combination of characteristics, with different strengths and challenges.
Famous People with Autism
- Chris Packham (nature presenter)
- Steve Jobs (Apple co-founder)
- Lionel Messi (footballer)
- Greta Thunberg (climate activist)
Traits of Autism
- Difficulty communicating and interacting - – May struggle with verbal and non-verbal communication, including tone, facial expressions, or gestures.
- Challenges understanding others’ thoughts or feelings - Often referred to as difficulty with “theory of mind.”
- Sensitivity to bright lights or loud noises - Can be overwhelmed by sensory input (known as sensory processing differences).
- Anxiety in unfamiliar situations and social events – Change and unpredictability can be distressing.
- Slower to process information – May need extra time to respond or complete tasks.
- Repetitive thoughts or behaviours – Includes routines, rituals, or repeated movements (e.g., hand-flapping, pacing).
- Need for downtime after work - Social and sensory fatigue can lead to burnout without adequate rest.
- Masking their autism - Some individuals consciously or unconsciously hide their traits to fit in, which can be exhausting.
Strengths & Challenges associated with Autism
Strengths
- hard-working
- excellent eye for detail
- tenacious
- appreciation of routine
- empathetic
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Challenges
- difficulty making friends
- risk of self-isolation
- challenges in job interviews
- discomfort with eye contact
Helpful tips for the individual
- Understand yourself – knowing your strengths and challenges is empowering. Keep a journal or tracker to notice patterns in energy, mood, or sensory triggers.
- Regulate emotions and sensory input – create a calm-down toolkit with items like noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, or calming scents. - Schedule downtime after social or work activities to recover from sensory or social fatigue. - Practice mindfulness or grounding techniques.
- Improve communication – Use text-based communication when verbal interaction feels overwhelming. - Practice Self-advocacy phrases - Use scripts or visual aids for common conversations or situations.
- Time management and organisation – Use visual schedules, planners or apps to manage time and tasks. - Break tasks into small, manageable steps and check them off as you go. - Set reminders or alarms.
Helpful tips for educators and employers
- Provide private time or space to self-regulate – Quiet, low-stimulation environments help reduce overwhelm and prevent meltdowns.
- Encourage gentle exposure to stressors in small amounts – Gradual desensitization can build tolerance without causing distress.
- Praise successes – Many autistic people receive more correction than encouragement. Celebrate effort, progress, and strengths.
- Discuss what is going well or not and agree strategies together – Involve the person in their own support planning.
Assistive technology resources
- Mind Mappping - Helps organise complex thoughts into clear visuals, reducing overwhelm and supporting planning.
- Text-to-speech - Reads text aloud to reduce overload and make information easier to process.
- Speech-to-text - Supports communication by turning spoken words into text, useful when writing feels challenging.
- Spelling & grammar tools - Suggest clearer wording and structure, helping express ideas more precisely and managing tone.
- Organisation & time management - Breaks routines into manageable steps with reminders, reducing stress and missed tasks.
- Maths & STEM helpers - Provide structured, step-by-step guidance to support focus and reduce errors in problem solving.