What should you consider when speaking with people with Autism?

In 2015, the National Autistic Society (NAS) found out five things people with autism and their families wanted the public to understand about what challenges them:

  • Needing extra time to process information

  • Experiencing anxiety in social situations

  • Experiencing anxiety with unexpected changes

  • Finding noise, smells and bright lights painful and distressing

  • Becoming overwhelmed and shutting down

Take a look at the video below to put your brain to the test and find out what it feels like to receive too much information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bC5Daif__8

  • Here are some tips:

  • Say less and say it slowly

  • Use specific key words, stressing on them if needed

  • Pause between words and phrases to give response time

  • Use less non-verbal communication

  • Use visual supports such as timetables

  • Be aware of the environment you’re in, if it’s noisy, this can reduce the amount of information able to be processed

Tips by Alex Pickett

At HeadStart we understand the importance of providing information in accessible formats to meet the diverse needs of our service users. We can provide information in different forms for example in another language, large print, easy-read materials, and technologies such as text-to-speech or audio. To request information in another format, contact us by phone or email shanay.nj@headstartaba.org or mobile 07946498499.

Gareth Cobb