World Autism Acceptance Month April 2025
What is autism?
Autism influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autistic people are different from each other, but for a diagnosis they must share differences from non-autistic people in how they think, feel and communicate.
Being autistic means you may feel things and react to them differently to non-autistic people. You may find socialising confusing or tiring, and you may become overwhelmed in loud or busy places. You may have intense interests, prefer order and routine, and use repeated movements or actions to calm yourself or express joy.
Understanding Autism
Autism influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autistic people are different from each other, but for a diagnosis they must share differences from non-autistic people in how they think, feel and communicate.
Most autistic people see being autistic as central to who they are. They may need support to succeed in a world designed for the needs of non-autistic people. But it is the barriers they face in society that are an issue, not being autistic. This is known as the ‘social model’ of disability.
Support
A range of support and information on many topics, including educational rights, transition, emotional support, mental health and more.
