Today I’m sharing 5 things to know about autism. Now trust me when I say, there are probably 5,000 things you could know about autism. But these 5 are ones that I think are the most important to remember. And are especially good to know when you’re first starting out.
1. You will never know everything about autism.
Trust me, you will never know it all. Autism is such a wide spectrum and everyone is completely individual and different. This is why it’s so important to always be ready to learn something new.
Some of the ways that I like to continue to grow my knowledge are;
- Attending trainings.
- Webinars.
- Reading books.
- Listening to the autistic community.
That last one has been the biggest game changer for me as an educator and a person. The #ActuallyAutistic hashtag is a great one to follow on social media. And to be able listen to the autistic community – and learn from them.
For example, when I was qualifying many years ago, I was always taught to say.. ‘A person with autism.’
But actually, the autistic community really prefer to be called an ‘autistic person.’
And I highly recommend checking out the autistic community for more information on this.
2. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability. There is no cure.
3. Autism is diagnosed more in males than females.
This is actually a really interesting topic to really look into. Currently it is thought to be a ratio of around 3:1 males who have autism to females. However, it is thought by a lot of professionals and individuals in the autistic community that many females go undiagnosed.
4. What is the cause of autism?
Like with most topics, people always want to know what the cause of autism is. We are naturally curious and in our positions, we want to find out all we can to provide the best opportunities for our students.
However, the causes of autism are still constantly being researched into. Many researches and experts in this field believe that there is no one ’cause’ of autism. And that there are genetic factors to take into account. Research is still ongoing.
5. Autism is a Spectrum
Autism is a spectrum condition. Which means that it affects people in a variety of different ways. It’s true when you hear the phrase.. ‘When you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.’
Many of us in the field will often state that autism is a constellation of characteristics. And these differences are..
- Language and communication.
- Socialisation.
- Repetitive behaviors.
- Restricted hobbies and interests.
- Difficulties with changes in routine.
- Sensory differences.
If you’re looking for more resources;
- Teaching Autism and Special Education Podcast
- What is Autism? Blog Post
- How to Diagnose Autism Podcast Episode with Andi Putt
- Children’s Books About Autism
- Autism Society Conference
- OCALICON
- ABAI Conference
Books
- Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew.
- Uniquely Human.
- The Reason I Jump.
- The Out-Of-Sync Child.
- 101 Games and Activities for Children wit Autism, Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorders.
- The Autistic Brain: Temple Grandin.
If you found this ‘5 Things You Need to Know About Autism’ blog post helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues on social media.
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