About Autism

Autism changes the way people communicate and experience the world around them.

Autism is a spectrum of developmental conditions, including Asperger’s Syndrome.

Every autistic person is different. Some are able to learn, live and work independently but many have learning differences or co-occurring health conditions that require specialist support.

Key Symptoms

Autism can be diagnosed at any age and affects males and females. Common symptoms of autism are

• delayed or absent speech

• problems listening, concentrating and understanding

• frequent repetition of words and phrases

• taking things literally

• difficulty sensing and interpreting people’s feelings

• difficulty expressing feelings

• over or under sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, smell or light

• rituals or repetetive behaviours

• disliking changes to routine

• difficulty making friends and socialising

Facts & Figures

• Without understanding, autistic people and families are at risk of being isolated and developing mental health problems.

• Autism is much more common than many people think. There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK – that's about 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people.

• Autism doesn't just affect children. Autistic children grow up to be autistic adults.

• Autism is a hidden disability – you can't always tell if someone is autistic.

• While autism is incurable, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people's lives.

• 34% of children on the autism spectrum say that the worst thing about being at school is being picked on.

• 63% of children on the autism spectrum are not in the kind of school their parents believe would best support them.

• 17% of autistic children have been suspended from school; 48% of these had been suspended three or more times; 4% had been expelled from one or more schools.

• Seventy per cent of autistic adults say that they are not getting the help they need from social services. Seventy per cent of autistic adults also told us that with more support they would feel less isolated⁵.

• At least one in three autistic adults are experiencing severe mental health difficulties due to a lack of support.

• Only 16% of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time paid employment and only 32% are in some kind of paid work.

• Only 10% of autistic adults receive employment support but 53% say they want it.

Why is South Glos Aspies an Important Thing?

To tackle social isolation and lonliness, which is the biggest end affect of autism.

From tackling the isolation scourge, individuals can build esteem and then healthily other areas of their life.

Many rescoures are focused at children, very little is directed towards adults on the spectrum.

Sometimes, people have to take things into their own hands, and this is why this group exists....