SLIDE 1
1
Introduction to Autism
including Asperger syndrome Da vid Ca rte r
Bra nc h Cha ir
Autism is…
A…a le a rning disa b ility B…a de ve lo pme nta l c o nditio n C...a me nta l he a lth c o nditio n
?
Autism is…
…a life lo ng de ve lo pme nta l disa b ility tha t a ffe c ts ho w a pe rso n c o mmunic a te s with, a nd re la te s to , o the r pe o ple . I t a lso a ffe c ts ho w the y ma ke se nse o f the wo rld a ro und the m.
- e ve ry a utism dia g no sis is uniq ue .
- e stima te d 4 ma le s to e ve ry fe ma le .
- witho ut the rig ht suppo rt, it c a n ha ve a pro fo und,
so me time s de va sta ting , e ffe c t
- n individua ls a nd fa milie s.
Prevalence
Curre nt pre va le nc e ra te is mo re tha n 1 in 100
T his me a ns tha t:
- Autism a ffe c ts o ve r 700,000 pe o ple .
- Inc luding the ir fa milie s, a utism to uc he s the live s o f 2.7 millio n
pe o ple e ve ry da y.
- E
a c h re q uiring va rio us le ve ls o f suppo rt a nd inte rve ntio n.
Some facts
- Pro b a b ly g e ne tic a lly linke d, inc re a se d inc ide nc e in sib ling s.
- Ab o ut 25% o f pe o ple with a utism a re no n-ve rb a l.
- Be twe e n 44%–52% o f pe o ple with a utism ma y ha ve a
le a rning disa b ility.
- Ab o ut 40% o f pe o ple dia g no se d with a utism a re a ve ra g e
to a b o ve -a ve ra g e inte lle c tua lly.
- Ab o ut 40% o f pe o ple dia g no se d with a utism ha ve
sympto ms o f a t le a st o ne a nxie ty diso rde r a t a ny time , c o mpa re d with up to 15% in the g e ne ra l po pula tio n.
Some facts
- Ne a rly two -thirds o f a dults with a utism in E
ng la nd do no t ha ve e no ug h suppo rt to me e t the ir ne e ds.
- At le a st 1 in 3 a dults with a utism e xpe rie nc e se ve re
me nta l he a lth diffic ultie s due to a la c k o f suppo rt.
- Only 16% o f a dults with a utism in the UK
a re in full-time pa id e mplo yme nt.
- While a utism is a life lo ng c o nditio n, the rig ht suppo rt