The Brain Charity

Autism

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Name	Autism
Related to/Also known as	Asperger's Syndrome
Symptoms of Autism	Autism is a lifelong developmental disability, which affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. People with autism have difficulties with everyday social interaction, with social communication (including not understanding facial expressions and tone of voice), and with imagination. This triad of impairments can occur by itself, but is often accompanied by other developmental disorders and learning disabilities.
Types
Useful national contacts	The National Autistic Society www.autism.org.uk Helpline: 0808 800 4104 Autism Initiatives www.autisminitiatives.org/default.aspx Ambitious About Autism (for children and young people with autism) www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk Tel. 020 8815 5444 FACT (Families of Autistic Children Together) www.factautism.org.uk Autism Concern www.autismconcern.org Help and Advice line: 0808 808 9090 Autism Assistance Dogs https://tinyurl.com/ybqkgqea Scottish Autism www.scottishautism.org Tel. 01259 720 044 Autism Northern Ireland www.autismni.org Tel. 028 9040 1729 Autism Cymru www.autism-cymru.org Tel: 02920 463 263
News and Events	World Autism Awareness Week is 1st-7th April (National Autistic Society website) https://tinyurl.com/y5dqrhru 'Media speculation about US President's views on autism' (National Autistic Society, February 2017) https://tinyurl.com/y5ljkh5q 'Vaccines not linked with autism, study finds' (NHS website, May 2014) https://tinyurl.com/y2yedtd9
Online resources	'Our position - MMR vaccine' (National Autistic Society) https://tinyurl.com/yy6gp9m2 Talk About Autism (online discussion forum for children and young people) www.talkaboutautism.org.uk Your Community (National Autistic Society online discussion forum) http://community.autism.org.uk MediKidz explain Autism https://tinyurl.com/yb7hayuf Autism Spectrum disorders including Asperger's syndrome (Contact a Family website) http://tinyurl.com/o3laopu
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Autism and on a wide-range of disability related issues. Visit our library to read Can I tell you about autism? A guide for friends, family and professionals by J. Welton and J. Telford. Or have a look in your local library for this book.

Communication Autism Developmental disorder