World Autism Awareness Day – 2nd April 2020

World Autism Awareness Day aims to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism and others living with autism face every day.

What is Autism?

Autism is a condition which means a person’s brain works differently to other people’s and affects the way they experience the world around them.

The term Autism does not refer to one specific condition but instead refers to a wider group of conditions (Autism spectrum). At least one in 100 children in the UK has an autism spectrum condition (ASC).

Children may have problems with communication, social interaction and flexibility of thought. This can affect how children make sense of the world around them and relate to other people. Diagnosis can take a long time, and often follows a period of uncertainty in a child’s early years.

How autism can affect you and your family

Having an autistic child can put a lot of strain on you and your family.

You might need to spend a lot of time helping your child get the support they need. This can be very stressful and exhausting.

It may be hard to make time for the rest of your family and can affect your relationships with each other.

If you feel you need help, you can get support from various places.

For further information and advice, please see: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/autism-and-everyday-life/help-for-families/