Just a little Understanding of Autism
The statistics tell us autism is
on the rise; probably more common than 1 in 68 children. Maybe you’ve heard
that statistic but aren’t sure how that really impacts you. Do you know autism doesn’t
just affect kids? A person with autism doesn’t “grow out of autism”. Autism affects the way a person thinks and
acts for their whole life. That statistic
means you may be interacting with someone with this developmental disorder in
the checkout line, at work or in a restaurant more often than you might guess. Generally, you may pick up on some
“quirkiness” or you might even think that person is just rude in how they deal
with you. A little understanding of
autism might help you respond with kindness.
Autism is a spectrum of disorders,
so each person is unique. A child with
autism typically is not born with “natural” social skills. In fact, how humans interact, use non-verbal
communication and understand unwritten social rules makes no sense to someone
with autism. Don’t assume that the
“loner” just wants to be left alone.
They may not know how to interact with you in a “normal” way, so they
keep to themselves.
Another area affected by autism
is communication. Sometimes words just
don’t have meaning or are taken too literally.
“What do you mean ‘it’s raining cats and dogs!’?” The person with autism
may be struggling to make sense of what you have said.
Furthermore, their senses
(hearing, touch, etc.) can be out of sync.
This means they are bothered by normal sights, sounds, smells, tastes
and touches that may make them feel they are under attack. That buzzing light,
potent perfume and itchy tag, that you don’t even notice, can cause a major
meltdown. Add any change in their
environment or routine and their stress level cannot be contained. Structure and order help people with autism
deal with the challenges they struggle with every day.
Another common struggle is
getting “stuck” in thought. Sometimes it's difficult to change their line of thinking, hence that obsession with trains. There are sometimes repetitive behaviors which help people with autism cope with anxiety and bring comfort and stability in a seemingly random, chaotic world. They are too frequently mistaken
as being rude or having a tantrum, but they may be reacting to what they cannot
understand or what they consider a threat.
People with autism are smart,
funny, talented, unique, loving and special. They make our world a better
place. You can make their world a better
place by being understanding and kind. People
with autism are dealing with a great number of difficult challenges. They are
odd and quirky not by choice. They may lash out or react in a disturbing way
but it may be their best defense against a world that seems hostile to them.
They may make you uncomfortable, but understand they are not intentionally
doing so. Please be patient and kind the
next time you are interacting with someone who is quirky, odd or annoying. Maybe they don’t have autism, but maybe they
do.
