Autism

Being autistic means that your brain works slightly different from other people’s. It is a condition that you were born with and will have your whole life. Some people call it their superpower! 

You may find that you have a super attention to detail that means you can become an expert in something you find interesting. Quite often (but not always) autistic children will have special talents in creative things – perhaps drawing, singing or music. 

Being autistic can also cause some challenges for you. You might find you sometimes don’t understand what people say or mean, you might not understand jokes and you might have interests in subjects other children think are boring. 

You can look at the script of this video here.

If you are finding that you have issues with loud noises, fidgeting, bright lights or something else sensory based, you should talk to a grown up at home or school to see if there’s anything you could do to try and make it feel better. Sometimes children find wearing headphones in noisy places or having a fidget toy during lessons can be helpful.  

If everything gets a bit overwhelming and you need some space, tell a grown up how you’re feeling. You might be able to go to a quiet room at school or a quiet area at home. 

Having friends is important for everyone. Try talking to the other children about what things they enjoy doing and playing, and then tell them about your interests too. 

You can look at the script of this video here.

There are lots of famous people who are autistic. From artists, singers and tv presenters to Olympic athletes – being autistic shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you love and being whoever you want to be.