This week, Monday, 28 March – Sunday, 3 April, 2022, is World Autism Acceptance Week. Autism is a lifelong difference in how people think, perceive the world and interact with others. It is usually thought to be neurological.
An autistic person may see, hear, feel and experience the world differently from non-autistic people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or disease so cannot be ‘cured’. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental and positive aspect of their identity.
A National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026 was published last year to help improve the lives of Autistic people and their families, by improving the services delivered. Our local, co-produced City & Hackney Autism Strategy, outlines how we are working towards an autistic friendly place.
This week, there will be an introduction to autism and experiences of autistic people shared to offer an understanding of what differences you can make to help improve things for autistic people.
Resources:
- Video: Autistica – Understand more about autism [Trigger warning: this video contains loud noises and flashing lights]
- National Autistic Society – This charity’s webpages contains various resources available to download. Includes link to a Virtual Background for Autism Week
- Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022 Events Schedule neurodiversityweek.com – As seen on LBH Staff Headlines; an array of free events to become more Neurodiversity aware.
- Video: BBC Three – Things Not to Say to an Autistic Person
[Warning: this video contains language some people might find offensive] - Illustration to help explain Neurodiversity
- Understanding the History of Autism (TED Talk) – lasts 14mins
*A note on terminology:
We recognise that every person has a preference on how they identify (e.g. autistic person or person with autism). In our Autism Strategy, identify-first descriptions (e.g. ‘autistic’ or ‘autistic resident’ rather than ‘resident with autism’) are used as per the agreed Autism Alliance Board Terms of Reference, but please note resources included within these communications may not use this same format.
Some people also identify more with the term ‘Neurodivergent’; at times this term may also be used. Neurodivergence now refers to any structured, consistent way that brains work differently for a group of people than they do for the majority of others.
NB: Our Experts by Experience have contributed much to the information we are sharing this week and we would like to thank them for their ongoing valued input.
