#autismthink
Twitter – please tweet
What do you think about with
the word disability?
Physical, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement
Learning disability
Less prelevent disabilities
Mental health
Neurological
Contents:
1. About Autism
Living with an
invisible
disability
2. Disability or
difference?
3. Breaking down stigma
and stereotypes
By Stephen Ben Morris
4. Hidden skills
5. Conclusion
What is Autism?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQmdoK_ZfY
What is Autism?
 Disability, Condition or Disorder?
 Often classified as a hidden disability,
 Affects : social interaction, communication, interests
and behaviour.
 Large Spectrum from nonverbal to High Functioning
(including Aspergers),
 Often more or less sensitive to sensory issues,
 Autism often coincides with mental heath issues or
learning difficulties,
 Think in black and white,
 Everyone on the spectrum is different.
Disability or Difference?
 From my point of view:
 Society disables some Autistics,
 Only a disability because we are in the
minority,
 Neurodiverse – we think differently,

Mimicking – learnt behaviour
Breaking down stigma and
stereotypes
Breaking down stereotypes
and stigma
Myths:
 We are all like ‘Rain Man’,
 It’s because of bad parenting,
 Autism is a kind of eccentricity,
 Autistics don’t have feelings and can’t feel
empathy,
 Autism can be cured,
 People know what causes autism,
Breaking down stereotypes
and stigma
Myths cont…….
 We all run off and stimming,
 We are criminals,
 We can’t make eye contact,
 We can’t socially behave, interact
and socialise,
Hidden Talent
 Treat everyone is an individual,
 We live in a Neurotypical World– add a bit of
neurodiversity!
 Given the opportunity Autistic can strive in any
situation and can ‘see out side the box’,
 Great attention to detail, loyalty and
remembering facts,
Conclusion
Often hard to diagnose someone
on the spectrum,
Treat everyone as an individual –
we are not a text book,
Focus upon their strengths rather
than their weaknesses.
Don’t see the label – see the
individual,
www.autismthinktank.co.uk
Thanks for listening
http://www.autism.org.uk/aboutautism/myths-facts-andstatistics/some-facts-andstatistics.aspx