Messages to others

We asked people if they had any message they wanted to pass on to people diagnosed with autism spectrum conditions. Some people stressed that autism could have positive aspects and shouldn’t be perceived as a negative thing. 

Autism can bring certain challenges and difficulties to life but it can also enrich your life in ways, too.

People should see the person and not the disability.

Some messages were directed towards education, health and social care professionals. Alex, for example, suggested that professionals should spend five minutes trying to understand patients’ needs because this would make the rest of their treatment easier for them.

Education professionals should have more autism awareness training, and they should involve people with autism in this.

A couple of people wanted others to know how they felt about having autism and that it wasn’t positive. The popular representation of autism on films such as Rainman or Mercury Rising was criticised by some who felt that people often expected people with autism to have savant characteristics.

Christopher wants more awareness about autism and feels it is like “the cancer of the mental health world”, the worst illness you could have.

Last reviewed October 2010.
Last updated October 2010.