You’re Not Alone
“Don’t let anyone make you think you are broken. You aren’t. Different, yes, but faulty? No.” Kassiane Sibley
Contents Introduction
1
About Autism
4
The Autistic Spectrum
5
Support in Higher and Further Education
9
Using Art To Communicate
13
Imagination
16
Strengths of the autistic individual
19
Resources
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You’re Not Alone
Introduction
Do you think you are autistic, or have you just been diagnosed? Some Derby students who are on the autistic spectrum have put their thoughts into this booklet to help you understand it. If you’ve just found out you are autistic, don’t worry. Perhaps you are feeling emotional, confused, relieved or frightened?
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Have you accepted it or are you in denial? Perhaps you’ve been feeling for a while that you are different from others or find some things difficult that others don’t. Well now is a good time to learn about the condition and understand what it means.
You’re Not Alone
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You’re Not Alone
About Autism
“You will have Good days and Bad days.”
Diagnosed A diagnosis of autism can be made at different ages and some people are never properly diagnosed. Two art students, involved in this project, were diagnosed between the ages of 8 and 10; with another it wasn’t recognised until he was about 14. Diagnosis can take a number of years.
Individuals can experience difficulties with communication, social skills and personal space. The difficulties can include speaking to people or going to places you don’t know. You may not be comfortable with being touched or need more personal space than most people. It can be difficult to have a conversation because you are preoccupied with your own thoughts.
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You’re Not Alone
The Autistic Spectrum
There are different labels used to describe autism:
•The autistic spectrum covers all instances of autism from high functioning individuals living successfully independent lives through to people needing constant care to help with basic tasks •Asperger’s syndrome is the diagnosis likely to be given to people who are high functioning autistic.
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•High functioning autistic individuals are often very able and intelligent in a specific area of study, but may have trouble dealing with social situations.
A drawing showing confusion over someone’s facial expression.
Participants 1 interpretation drawings (2013)
“If someone maintains really strong eye contact, I find it quite uncomfortable so I look away and listen to their voice for expression.”
A drawing to show how I feel when my
routine changes.
“If I go to the shop with something in mind, if the exact thing I came for isn’t there. I really struggle to accept any alternative, it will bug me for hours.”
ings (2013)
terpretation draw
Participants 1 in
You’re Not Alone
...“Autism is very personal in the way it affects everyone differently and everyone has a different way of interpreting it.”
...”‘(It) comes down to where people are on the autistic spectrum, some people who are on the autistic spectrum will never live independently because they have difficulties such as getting dressed, whereas people who are high functioning will be able to make conversations with people’...”
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You’re Not Alone
Support in Higher and Further Education
“It’s hard to separate autism from anything else, because it’s a part of everything”
Education Environment
Autism is often treated as a disability in the media. Autistic students often benefit from support to help with anxiety caused by the education environment, or with clarifying tasks. They don’t necessarily struggle to learn.
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Students can contact the learning support specialist service to help them get the support that they need. Support will be designed to meet individual needs and provide information about other advice and organisations that can be accessed.
n surrounded How I feel whe
know. by people I don’t
ings (2013)
terpretation draw
Participants 1 in
“In group work I tend to be very quiet unless I know everyone in the group quite well. I find it a little overwhelming.”
ipant Partic
3)
1 gs (20 rawin
tion d erpreta s 2 int
“ All of the other people are discussing and chatting, but I’m not sure what to say, and I don’t know them well enough to join in, so because I’m anxious I’ll close up into a bubble.”
You’re Not Alone
“I think it’s just looking at what we are interested in and to see how you can tailor that idea towards what we like.” “Anything visual definitely helps immensely. Speaking to people could be difficult but if you show something visually, such as hand outs, then art is an amazing way to communicate, both ways.”
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You’re Not Alone
Using Art To Communicate
“It’s an amazing way of show your perception of the world. I think because autistic people do see the world differently, showing neuro-typical people that world is quite moving.”
Using pictures to tell a story can be very helpful if words are difficult to use when you are writing or speaking.Art can be used as a way to express, explain and work out ideas.
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Participants 2 interpretation drawings
(2013)
“A day trip has been announced unexpectedly, and all of the things I thought were giving to happen have been thrown out of place, so I’m in a state of panic.”
Participants 3 interpretation drawings (2013)
“I have focused on the three main points; eye contact and the struggle to keep it. Listening & making sure you do & Distractions like why a person’s hair is in a certain style/colour.”
You’re Not Alone
Imagination “Yep.The things that I noticed more with the course is that I come up with good ideas and get teachers interested in my ideas, it seems to meet the criteria of what the brief needs and come together to create a unique response.�
Understanding Some think that people with autism do not have good imaginations because they can struggle to understand facial expressions or the use of sarcasm and irony in
conversations. Outside the social situation a person with autism has as effective an imagination as anyone else and can often bring a unique view to the task set.
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You’re Not Alone
“I can create whole worlds in my head in seconds, I think that is quite good.” “(Autism) certainly helps me think outside the box and think about things in a different way to how an average person would. Instead of going to point A, B, C I may go from A to A.1 to C.”
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Participa
retation nts 2 interp
drawings
(2013)
“The boy on the right is giving an expression, but I (on the left) am not sure what he’s thinking, so I’m giving though various things he could be thinking in my head.”
You’re Not Alone
Strengths of the autistic individual
“I think it’s all strengths in a positive way. I’ve known a few autistic people and they hate having autism. I have asked, why do you hate it? And they say, because I can’t do this and that. Then I say to them that you can do this, I know I can do that. So is it a bad thing to have this amazing gift?”
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What advice would you give to other people who have been recently diagnosed?
“My advice to people who have recently been diagnosed is to not treat it like the end of the world. It is still possible to function and, even, fit in with society. Just because autism is treated, as a disability doesn’t mean that it has to be consider one in some cases it can even be considered a perk. I would also suggest getting some books on autism so both you and your family can have a better understanding of how you work.
Finally if possible I would expose yourself to as many other people on the spectrum as possible. Not only will this help you to feel less isolated, it will also make you aware of some of your own quirks.”
“If obviously that’s not close to when I was diagnosed so I can’t talk from experience. But I suppose my advice would be to try to confront the things they find challenging head on, and not to be afraid to ask for help.”
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Find Out More At...
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http://www.autism.org.uk/ National Autism Society
•
http://www.autismsupport.co.uk/ Derbyshire Autism Services Group
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http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autistic-spectrum-disorder/Pages/ Introduction.aspx NHS- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
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http://autismforbeginners.wordpress.com/ Social blog for people communicate each other
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You’re Not Alone
Thank you to all the participants for your drawings and interviews. This was a good experience to understand more about Autsim and how it made you who you are.
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