What Autism Is
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference affecting how people perceive the world, communicate, and interact. It's not a disease to cure - it's a different way of being that comes with both challenges and strengths.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterised by:
A. Social Communication
Persistent differences in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts.
B. Restricted/Repetitive Patterns
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities.
These characteristics must be present from early development (even if not recognised until later) and cause clinically significant impact. Support needs are specified as Level 1, 2, or 3.
- A neurodevelopmental difference present from early life
- Characterised by differences in social communication
- Associated with patterns of restricted interests or repetitive behaviours
- Often involves differences in sensory processing
- A spectrum - no two autistic people are the same
- Highly heritable (approximately 80% genetic component)
- A lifelong condition - not something you "grow out of"
- Associated with both challenges AND strengths
- Caused by vaccines, parenting, or trauma
- A disease or illness that needs "curing"
- Always associated with intellectual disability
- Always visible or obvious
- The same as lacking empathy or emotions
- A barrier to meaningful relationships or success
- A male condition (many girls and women are autistic)
- Something that can be "switched off" with willpower
Understanding the spectrum
The "spectrum" doesn't mean a linear scale from "mild" to "severe". Think of it as multiple dimensions where every autistic person has their own unique profile of strengths, challenges, and support needs.
What the research tells us
Autism affects approximately 1-2% of the population
Population studies (CDC 2023, UK studies)
Heritability is approximately 80%, making genetics the primary factor
Twin studies (Tick et al., 2016)
Girls and women are significantly underdiagnosed
Current ratio ~3:1 male:female, likely reflecting bias (Loomes et al., 2017)
Autism frequently co-occurs with ADHD (50-70% overlap)
Meta-analyses (Rommelse et al., 2010)
Early support improves outcomes but autism itself doesn't disappear
Longitudinal studies (Pickles et al., 2016)
One of the most harmful misconceptions about autism is that autistic people lack empathy. Research shows this is wrong:
- Cognitive empathy (reading what others think/feel) may be different - autistic people may not automatically infer others' mental states
- Affective empathy (caring about others' feelings) is often intact or even heightened - many autistic people feel others' emotions deeply
- The "double empathy problem" suggests communication difficulties go both ways - non-autistic people also struggle to understand autistic people
Many autistic people describe feeling emotions more intensely, not less.
The neurodiversity paradigm views autism as a natural form of human variation rather than a disorder to be fixed. Key points:
- Autism is a difference, not a defect
- Many challenges come from a world designed for neurotypical people
- Autistic people have valuable perspectives and strengths
- Support should focus on quality of life, not "normalisation"
This doesn't mean autism doesn't involve genuine difficulties or that support isn't needed. It means the goal of support should be wellbeing and autonomy, not making someone appear "less autistic".
Common autistic strengths
While experiences vary, many autistic people share certain strengths:
Attention to detail
Noticing things others miss
Deep expertise
Becoming highly knowledgeable in areas of interest
Honest communication
Direct, clear, without hidden agendas
Pattern recognition
Seeing connections and systems
Loyalty and fairness
Strong sense of justice and commitment
Creative thinking
Novel approaches and perspectives