Understanding Autism

The first day of school is daunting enough for most students, but give a thought to students with autism who find it difficult to deal with new faces, routines, noise or not knowing how to start their work.

Many students with autism who are unable to cope can hit, hide, run away, rock their bodies or carry out other behaviours which makes it hard for classmates to understand them. Amanda Curtis, author of “My Friend has Asperger’s”, Director of the Special Little People Seminars and the Autism Health & Well Being Expos, says that more understanding of children, teens and adults with autism is desperately needed.

“It’s tragic that we have adults with autism that are perfect for employment, but don’t win the job because they can’t get past the interview stage and that up to 75 per cent of teens with autism are bullied at high school. The challenge is usually social skills.” Amanda says “just because a job candidate with autism cannot look the employer in the eye or engage in chit chat does not mean they can’t do the job. Unfortunately, behaviours are misunderstood.”

Amanda held Melbourne’s very first Autism Health & Well Being Expo this year and it was so successful it will run every year from now on. “The first step of inclusion for people with autism is understanding, so along with people with autism, carers and educators, we want people who know very little or nothing about autism to attend the expo to learn.” For more information visit www.autismhealthandwellbeingexpo.com or telephone 1300 665 602.