Three Things I Wish People Knew About Autism

In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness about autism. However, there are some things that are commonly overlooked. Jack is autistic and grew up in a regional town, he is sharing with us three things he wished people knew about autism. 

Autistic people are all different and unique

Autism presents in different ways and there is no one way to represent autism. For Jack, he attended the local secondary school but had a different learning plan throughout. This allowed him to do the work at his own pace. He also had a teaching aide who often helped him in areas he needed it. Some autistic children won’t have difficulties learning while others may have greater learning difficulties. These children may attend a school for a specific purpose, that has the resources to help them learn at their own pace. 

Autistic people aren’t antisocial

People assume that autistic people are antisocial when this is not the case. Understanding unspoken communication such as body language, facial expressions and tone can be challenging for autistic people. This can make it difficult to build relationships, especially in busy environments such as work where there are many other distracting things occuring. This does not mean that an autistic person is antisocial, just that they may be struggling to communicate at that moment. 

Some autistic people require more detailed explanations

“Personally, I need a bit more information to understand things.” says Jack. He finds it difficult when people rush through an explanation, don’t include enough information or the explanation is relying on assumptions. For many autistic people, it is helpful if you explain things slowly and with a good amount of detail so that nothing is left ambiguous. 

If there is one thing Jack would tell parents, it is that there is a lot of help available

Growing up, Jack attended speech pathology to help with speaking and listening skills. He also found extra benefit from learning through playing. This is a way that children can make sense of the world around them, helping them to develop cognitive skills, social skills, gain self confidence and mature emotionally. This is something all children participate in throughout pre-school, kindergarten and the initial years of primary school. 

Jack graduated in 2019 from secondary school and has since been working in the hospitality sector. He believed this was the industry he wanted a career in but now he is not so sure! The inconsistency and lack of job security have made Jack reconsider his career path as he searches for the career that suits him best. In the meantime, he is saving up for a place of his own in the countryside. 

If you would like extra support for your autistic child, yourself or are wanting to complete a psychological assessment, please contact our friendly staff at Heart and Mind Psychological Assessments Australia and book an in-person or tele-assessment appointment.