Everyone
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that impacts all aspects of a person’s life. It is characterized by differences in social communication and interaction and by restrictive and repetitive behaviours, actions, or interests. Every autistic person has unique strengths and support needs which can fluctuate throughout a person’s life.
Common traits include:
- Unique ways of expressing communication and speech
- A profound commitment to fairness and social justice
- Often Exceptional gift for recognizing patterns
- Deep immersion and joyful passion in areas of interest
- Preference for concrete, literal ways of sharing meaning.
- Navigating abstract ideas and pronouns in personal ways
- Rhythmic repetition in language or vocal expressions (such as echolalia)
- Building connections with peers on one’s own timeline
- Preference for statement-based sharing over questions
- Interpreting social signals like eye contact, expressions, body language, and gestures in neurokin ways
- Self-regulating movements (often called “stimming”), such as rocking, hand movements, chewing, vocal sounds, or repetitions
- Cherishing established rhythms, familiar places, or predictable flows
- Needing gentle time for shifts in flow, plans, or surroundings
- Heightened attunement to sensory experiences like smell, touch, taste, sound, or sight
- Joyful engagement with visual wonders like lights, motion, or exploring mechanisms
Autism is a Spectrum
The autism spectrum is not a straight line from ‘less autistic’ to ‘more autistic.’ Instead, the term ‘spectrum’ refers to how an autistic person functions in each of these areas:
- Executive function
- Sensory processing
- Repetitive behaviours
- Motor skills
- Perseverative thinking
- Social awareness
- Verbal & nonverbal communication
- Information processing
Each autistic person’s experience of autism is different. One autistic person may have high support needs for their motor skills and executive function, but none for communication. Another may excel at motor function but needs some help with social awareness.
Autistic people are not a monolith. You cannot observe that someone is autistic simply by the way they look or act. While all autistic people have varying support needs, it’s important to remember that people who are neurotypical will also need support in different ways throughout their lives. With this in mind, not only is autism a spectrum, but so is the human experience.
Autism Myths
There are many misconceptions about autism that are harmful and stigmatizing to autistic people. Contrary to common myths, autism is:
- Not curable or in need of a cure
- Not a disease
- Not caused by vaccines
- Not caused by diet
- Not caused by poor parenting
- Not only present in children
- Not only present in males
Cultural Differences:
It’s important for us to acknowledge that our understanding of autism is based in a Eurocentric worldview. Many Indigenous cultures around the world view autism as having the ability to understand things differently, or may be seen as having gifts instead of limitations. Autism has been stigmatized throughout post colonial history. In turn, what’s considered socially acceptable, normal or expected is often formed through a colonial lens. Available medical literature doesn’t often account for Indigenous perspectives and because of this, our collective understanding isn’t as thorough as it could be. What’s important to understand is, not everyone (or every culture) views autism or neurodiversity as something that must be pathologized. Many people around the world see autism as an important aspect to understanding life and different ways of being in the world.
To learn more, join our next “What is Autism? Workshop” or explore the links and videos below.
