Autism is a brain difference that is fundamental to who a person is. It affects the way a person develops in childhood, the way that they think, and the way they live their life. All Autistic people are unique, but some of the areas where Autistic people develop differently to non-Autistic people include:
- Communication
- Socialisation and interaction with others
- Thinking and processing
- Sensing and perceiving the environment
- Moving, playing and having fun
Autism is not a disease or an illness, and it cannot be treated or cured. Instead, autism is a different way of ‘being’ in the world, and can be a source of strength, diversity, and beauty.
Image created by Róisín Kelly – https://www.rkcreator.com
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is the idea that everyone’s brain works differently and no one ‘type’ of brain is inherently better or worse than any other type of brain. Some people find it easier to behave in ways that society expects because of the way their brains work; these people are described as neurotypical. People whose brains function differently are described as neurodivergent. Neurodivergent is a broad umbrella term which includes autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disabilities. It also includes mental health conditions, intellectual disability, and traumatic brain injury. ‘Neurodiversity: Some Basic Terms & Definitions’ by Dr Nick Walker is a good starting point if you want to learn more about neurodiversity.
Autism is a spectrum
Although autism is a spectrum, it is important to understand that this spectrum is not linear. Each Autistic person will have a different set of strengths and challenges across a range of characteristics, as shown in the image below. This means we don’t think about Autistic people as fitting somewhere on a spectrum from ‘more’ Autistic to ‘less’ Autistic, or from ‘higher functioning’ to ‘lower functioning’. Instead, an Autistic person’s needs and experiences can change from one day to the next, depending on the environment they are in and how well they are able to cope with day-to-day demands. Autistic people also develop new skills and encounter new challenges as they grow up, just like everyone else. Therefore, functioning labels do not capture the complexity and variability of an Autistic person’s experiences.
Image created by Róisín Kelly – https://www.rkcreator.com
Autism is a developmental difference, so an Autistic person’s differences might change or become more or less obvious as they grow up. Autistic people also often have ‘spiky profiles’. This means that the difference between how strong someone’s strengths are and how much they struggle with their weaknesses is more pronounced than it would be in a non-Autistic person. Whilst research and professionals have historically focussed on the challenges Autistic people face, it is also important to recognise and foster Autistic people’s strengths.
No two Autistic people are the same. However, for someone to be diagnosed as Autistic, they must display:
- Differences in social communication and social interaction; and
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities – this includes sensory differences.
Differences in social communication and social interaction
‘Differences in social communication and social interaction’ refers to the way an Autistic person behaves in social situations and how they use language and non-verbal communication. There are a lot of ways that these differences can manifest, but some common ones include:
- Being less likely to initiate and sustain interactions with other people
- Being less likely to respond when other people initiate interactions
- Feeling tired or anxious in social situations
Image created by Róisín Kelly – https://www.rkcreator.com
- Difficulty with the back-and-forth of conversations
- Reduced eye contact in social situations
- Differences in the way a person shares their thoughts, feelings, interests etc. with other people
- Struggling to understand non-verbal communication like gestures, facial expressions and body language
- Difficulty with friendships and relationships
- Using body language, sign language or electronic devices that support communication, rather than spoken language (these methods of communication are collectively known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication, or AAC)
- Speaking less frequently or less fluently than non-Autistic people
- Having a flat or monotonous speaking voice
- Using more complex language than most non-Autistic people
- Needing extra time to process and respond to spoken language
Autistic researcher Damian Milton has come up with a theory called the ‘double empathy problem’ to explain these differences. This theory says that Autistic and non-Autistic people have different experiences of the world and different ways of communicating, and communication breakdowns happen because of these differences. Thus, rather than lacking social or communication skills, Autistic people simply have different social and communication skills than non-Autistic people. Both Autistic and non-Autistic people need to try to adapt to other people’s needs – it shouldn’t always fall to Autistic people to adapt to the communication needs of non-Autistic people. To learn more about the double empathy problem, you can read this article from Reframing Autism or watch this video from The Autistic Advocate.
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities
‘Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities’ refers to the fact that many Autistic people behave in ways that may seem odd or idiosyncratic to observers. However, these behaviours often serve an important purpose for the Autistic person – they might calm anxiety or be a source of pleasure, for example. The following are examples of restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities:
- Repetitive movements and sounds, known as stims (for example, bouncing your knee, tapping a pen, flapping your hands, rocking back and forth, clicking your tongue, humming)
- Lining up/organising/categorising objects
- Sticking to a routine and following rules precisely
- Struggling with unpredictability and change
- Strong and intense interests (sometimes called special interests or spins)
Sensory differences
Autistic people often perceive and process the environment around them differently from non-Autistic people. Humans have eight sensory systems: vision, touch, taste, hearing, smell, proprioception (our sense of where our body is in space), interoception (our sense of our body’s internal states) and vestibular (our sense of balance). Autistic people can be hypersensitive (more sensitive) to some sensations and hyposensitive (less sensitive) to other sensations. Examples of sensory differences include:
- Finding bright fluorescent lights painful
- Being overwhelmed by the sound of many voices talking at once
- Disliking the texture of certain foods
- Finding it hard to tell when you are hungry
- Being clumsy
- Loving bright colours
- Enjoying really spicy foods
- Needing to move around a lot
Language preferences
At Altogether Autism we use identity-first language (‘Autistic person’) rather than person-first language (‘person with autism’). This reflects the preference of many Autistic people, who view being Autistic as an inherent part of who they are and not as a deficit that can be separated from them. We also capitalise the ‘A’ in ‘Autistic’ to reflect many Autistic people’s understanding that being Autistic is part of their cultural identity. To learn more about language preferences within Aotearoa New Zealand’s Autistic community, refer to Autism New Zealand’s Autism Terminology Resource. Of course, whenever you are talking about an individual Autistic person, it is important to respect their choices about how they identify.
Takiwātanga
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The Māori word for autism is takiwātanga. Tangata whaitakiwātanga means Autistic person. Takiwātanga derives from the saying ‘tōku/tōna anō takiwā’, meaning ‘in my/her/his/their own space and time.’
Takiwātanga is a part of human diversity and focuses on the strengths of tāngata whaitakiwātanga, placing them in the context of their whānau. Takiwātanga acknowledges that individuals are unique; they move at their own frequency and pace and may have alternative routes to achieving tasks.
The kupu takiwātanga was crafted by rangatira and te reo expert Keri Opai. Keri created Te Reo Hāpai – The Language of Enrichment, a te reo Māori glossary for use in the mental health, addiction, and disability sectors. It was created to provide a glossary of positive terms through a te ao Māori lens. Takiwātanga is underpinned by te ao Māori understandings of diversity and celebrates and encompasses traditional approaches to health and disability.
Te ao Māori perspective
A te ao Māori perspective and approach to takiwātanga can be found in things like:
- Te reo Māori
- Tikanga Māori
- Māori hauora models
- Traditional practices such as karakia, rongoā māori and maramataka.
This is the body of knowledge that has been passed down through many generations and captures the wisdom of our tūpuna to provide guidance for whānau on how they can lead positive lives through a te ao Māori worldview. It is important to note that different iwi and hapū may have different tikanga or kupu around autism and neurodiversity.
You can find more information about takiwātanga from a te ao Māori perspective here. We also have a free online course offering a kaupapa Māori space for whānau to explore the meaning of takiwātanga. Kanorau are an excellent organisation to get in touch with if you want to learn more about takiwātanga from a te ao Māori perspective. You can watch their videos on YouTube.
Further information
The Aotearoa New Zealand Autism Guideline: He Waka Huia Takiwātanga Rau provides evidence-based recommendations on how to support Autistic people throughout their lives. It covers assessment and diagnosis, support for individuals and families, education, mental health and wellbeing, living in the community, professional development, Māori perspectives and perspectives of Pacific Peoples.
You can find articles on many different aspects of autism in our Information Hub. We also publish an annual Journal, which you can subscribe to for free. Sign up to receive our eNews to stay informed about upcoming events Altogether Autism is running.
Our personalised information service can answer any specific questions you have about autism. Where necessary, our team can evaluate the relevant research for you, or reach out to our Autistic and professional advisors for their insights. To request information, you can talk directly to one of our live chat agents by clicking on the orange button at the bottom right of your screen, fill out our information request form, or call us on 0800 273 463.
If you want to learn more about autism in person or online, Altogether Autism has a wide range of workshops for Autistic people, whānau, allies, and professionals. Custom programmes are available to meet specific learning needs. Our workshops are developed in consultation with Autistic people and professionals and delivered by experienced facilitators who have lived experience or professional knowledge of autism. For more information, you can email info@altogetherautism.org.nz.