What is Autism?

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

We know that lots of people with different backgrounds and experiences read our articles. If you happen to be fairly new to learning about autism, this article is a great place to start. In it, we aim to answer the following questions:

• What is autism and the autistic spectrum? 

• How many people are autistic?  

• Is autism a disability?  

What is Autism and the Autistic Spectrum?  

Autism is a neuro-developmental condition. It is not a learning disability, although, according to the National Autistic Society, around a third of autistic people have co-occurring learning disabilities. It is not uncommon for people with autism to experience mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. 

Autism is a “spectrum” condition, which means the degree to which individual people are affected by their condition varies significantly. The spectrum is not a straight line with “more autistic” at one end, and “less autistic” at the other. Each autistic person has different challenges. These challenges can vary and change over time depending on circumstances, environment, and other factors. As such, it is important not to make assumptions about an autistic person’s level of support needs.  

There are four key areas in which many autistic people are likely to have some degree of difficulty: 

1. Social communication 

2. Social interaction 

3. Social imagination (i.e. putting yourself in someone else’s shoes) 

4. Sensory difficulties 

However, everyone is different, so it is important to remember this: if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve only met one person with autism. 

In defining autism, the National Autistic Society explains: 

“The definition of autism has changed over the decades and could change in future years as we understand more. Some people feel the spectrum is too broad, arguing an autistic person with 24/7 support needs cannot be compared with a person who finds supermarket lights too bright. We often find that autistic people and their families with different support needs share many of the same challenges, whether that’s getting enough support from mental health, education and social care services or being misunderstood by people close to them.”

How Many People are Autistic?  

According to the National Autistic Society, more than one in 100 people are autistic in the UK, which would mean at least 700,000 adults and children. However, there are a significant number of autistic people who do not have or cannot access a diagnosis. Further research is required in this area, and the National Autistic Society acknowledges that the true figure is likely to be far higher.  

Is Autism a Disability?

Disability is a protected ground under the Prevention of Discrimination (Guernsey) Ordinance (2022). The ordinance provides a definition that indicates autism can be considered a disability as it refers to conditions that affect social interactions. This means autistic people in Guernsey have legal protections against discrimination and are entitled to ask for reasonable adjustments and support in education and work.  

For more information about the Prevention of Discrimination (Guernsey) Ordinance (2022), visit the Employment and Equal Opportunities website at eeos.gg.  

Some autistic people prefer not to describe autism as a disability, and often cite the social model of disability, explaining that autistic people are disabled by the barriers they face in society. Many describe themselves as neurodivergent instead of, or as well as disabled.