Understanding autism

What autism is, how it can affect children and young people, and how to get support.

What autism is

Autism is a specific neurotype. A neurotype is a way of describing how a person's brain works and experiences the world.

Everyone has a neurotype. People's brains develop and process information in different ways. Find out about other neurotypes on our understanding neurodiversity page.

Autistic people may communicate, learn, socialise and experience the world in ways that are different from non-autistic people.

Autism is lifelong. There's no single way to be autistic, and every autistic person is different.

How autism can affect children and young people

Autistic children and young people may experience differences in:

• communication and language
• understanding and interacting with other people
• recognising and expressing emotions
• coping with change or unexpected situations
• sensory experiences such as sounds, lights, smells, tastes and textures

Some autistic children may need very little support. Others may need support in many areas of their daily lives.

Strengths autistic children might have

Some autistic children may:

• have strong interests or areas of expertise
• notice details that others miss
• think creatively
• have excellent knowledge about topics they enjoy
• be honest and direct communicators
• enjoy solving problems

Every child has their own strengths, interests and talents.

Challenges autistic children may sometimes experience

Challenges are not caused by autism alone. Sometimes challenges happen because the world around a child is not designed with their needs in mind.

For example, a child may find:

• busy or noisy environments overwhelming
• unexpected changes difficult
• communication unclear or confusing
• social situations tiring or stressful

Understanding a child's strengths and needs can help adults make changes that support them to thrive.

Autism and learning disability

Autism and learning disability are different things. Some autistic people have a learning disability, and some do not.

A learning disability affects a person's ability to learn, understand and use information. It's lifelong and can affect everyday life.

People with a learning disability may need additional support with things such as:

• communication
• learning new skills
• understanding information
• managing money
• travelling independently
• making decisions
• personal care and daily living skills

Some autistic people with a learning disability may need significant support throughout their lives. Many autistic people do not have a learning disability and can live independently as adults.

This is why it's important to understand each child's individual strengths, needs and support requirements rather than making assumptions based on a diagnosis.