Autism

Autism is a developmental disability. Autism is also considered a dynamic disability, in which a person’s needs and abilities fluctuate day to day or hour to hour.

Autism is a form of neurodivergence characterised by hyper/hypo-sensitive sensory perception, a monotropic (more singularly focussed) attentional style, and a unique social communication style.
Amy Pearson and Sophie Hodgetts , 2023

An autistic person experiences the world differently due to their neurotype. An autistic person differs from a neurotypical person in the way they:

think,
process sensory information,
move their body,
communicate,
socialise,
recognise bodily signals and emotions (interoception).

Autistic persons thrive and live well when they have the support they need to meet their sensory, communication, movement, executive functioning, and social needs. Unfortunately, many physical and social environment are not built to accommodate their needs.

Language preferred by the autistic community

Autistic

The autistic community prefers the term “autistic” person / children / adult / activist. However, some autistic individuals may prefer to be referred to as “person with autism”.

We should respect their preference and not correct or lecture them because every person has different understandings about their own lived experience and identity.

Discard “high or low functioning” labels

Functioning labels are inaccurate and subjective. It is often used to describe an autistic or disabled person based on their abilities to speak, perform self-care activities and perceived level of intelligence.

The fact is: every person’s ability to function varies depending on the situation, their mood, their stress level, their sleep quality the night before, and other factors; regardless if the person is autistic or not.

It is more accurate to describe the specific support that a person needs. For example:

“She mostly communicates via speech and manages daily basic tasks on her own. She may need support when there is an unexpected change to her schedule, or when she is in an environment with complex background noise, glaring lights and/or a large crowd.
“He works full time and needs support with daily basic tasks such as reminders to eat, drink, going to the toilet and shower. He also needs help to plan out his weekly and monthly schedule.”

If one must use a quick label to describe an autistic person, it is better to use “ support needs ”. The term shifts away from judging a person based on certain functioning abilities, towards a focus on how much and what kind of support that they need.

The term also allows for fluidity to describe the different degrees of support that an autistic person requires at different stages of life. For example, an autistic person may have “moderate support needs” as a school going child, “low support needs” as a working young adult, and “high support needs” as an adult dealing with stressful life events such as grief or moving.

Resources

This page collates resources that are neurodiversity affirming, with priority given to authors and creators who are autistic or neurodivergent.

Understanding Autism

Understanding the Autistic Mind 1 by NeuroClastic

My Brain is Autistic (illustrated book) by NeuroClastic

Start Here: a guide for parents of autistic kids by Lar Berry & Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Autism: A Guide for Parents by Autism Wellbeing, UK

A Guide to Understanding Your Autistic Child by Ira Kraemer, Autistic Science Person

Monotropism

Attention, monotropism and the diagnostic criteria for autism by Dinah Murray, Mike Lesser & Wenn Lawson

Monotropism: Explanations by Monotropism

Sensory Processing Differences

Sensory Differences by Autism Tasmania, Australia

Sensory features in autism: Findings from a large population-based surveillance system by Anne V. Kirby, Deborah A. Bilder, Lisa D. Wiggins, et al. in Autism Research

In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults by K. MacLennan, S. O’Brien & T. Tavassoli in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Double Empathy Problem

On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy problem’ by Damian Milton

Double Empathy: Why Autistic People Are Often Misunderstood by Catherine J. Crompton, Kilee DeBrabander, Brett Heasman, Damian Milton & Noah J. Sasson in Frontiers for Young Minds

Milton’s ‘double empathy problem’: A summary for non-academics by Reframing Autism