What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects the way a person communicates, interacts and relates to the world around them.

Like all people autistic people are different to each other, and have their own strengths and challenges.

However, all autistic people have difficulty with communication and social interaction. This may mean not talking at all or limited speech. It may mean longer time is needed to process information, or reading facial expressions may be difficult. In addition, people who are on the autism spectrum are likely to demonstrate repetitive behaviour such as doing or thinking the same thing.  Autistic people can also find unexpected changes difficult.

They can find the world around them overwhelming. Many people with autism will also be over- or under-sensitive to sounds, touch, taste, smells, light, colours, temperatures and pain. For example, they might find background sounds unbearably loud, distracting or painful.

This can make the world for a person on the autism spectrum an unpredictable and confusing place, and taking part in everyday family, school, work and social life can be challenging. An autistic adult or child can go into a ‘meltdown’ or ‘shutdown’ as a result of the daily challenges they face.

Some people with autism are able to live independent or semi-independent lives but others may need a lifetime of specialist support. Some people with autism may have accompanying learning disabilities, mental health conditions or other conditions.

If you are autistic, you are autistic for life. There is no ‘cure’. However, with the right support, people can be helped to live a fulfilling life. The earlier that a diagnosis of autism is made, the better the chances are that the individual will receive appropriate help and support. Timely intervention has been shown to improve the quality of life for people on the autism spectrum and their families, and can significantly reduce the amount of support needed later in life.

Autism affects approximately more than one in every 100 people and, as diagnostic skills improve, more people are being diagnosed.

It is estimated that there are about 1,100 people on the autism spectrum in Jersey.