06:00, 02 April 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
It’s officially World Autism Awareness Day, a day all about increasing visibility for and understanding of autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition. It’s not a flaw or a quirk, but as a condition, it categorises a difference in the way some people communicate and experience the world around them.
According to Autistica, a research charity dedicated to improving the lives of those with autism, 1-2% of the UK population is autistic.
Like anyone else with any other kind of condition, no two autistic people are the same, nor will they experience their autism in exactly the same way. However, there are some key characteristics that are common amongst people with autism, like a preference for routine, sensory differences, and a hyperfocus on specific interests.
Some people with autism may experience a delay or difference in speech, while others may be comfortable speaking, but do so in a way that is different to those without autism.
Unfortunately, like many conditions, our world is often more difficult to access for people with autism than those without. That’s one of the reasons the work of Autistica is so important; with their research, we can implement scientifically backed changes to make our world a more accessible place.
Smiley News caught up with Analiese Jackson, the Director of Internal Affairs at Autistica, to learn more about the work they are doing in honour of World Autism Awareness Day.
World Autism Awareness Day falls within World Autism Acceptance Month. Many people are aware of autism, but without understanding and acceptance, it can be difficult to change people’s outdated perceptions of [sic.] what it means to be autistic.
World Autism Awareness Day is a fantastic opportunity for charities like ours to amplify and share stories that we hear firsthand from our community. Each April, we love to celebrate the different ways in which autistic people contribute to our local communities and the country more broadly, but it’s equally an important platform to talk about the very real challenges that autistic people face in a world that is not inherently designed for neurodivergent people.
This World Autism Acceptance Month, we are running a campaign called ‘See us as individuals, not stereotypes.’. This campaign focuses on transforming public attitudes towards autistic people by tackling outdated stereotypes head-on. We want to empower people to change their thinking from simply acknowledging that autistic people exist to embracing acceptance.
To find out more about it, you can check out our social media channels or our website.
The data tell us that awareness of autism has increased over the last decade: a YouGov poll in 2015 showed that over 99% of people had heard of autism, and with the rise of social media platforms, there seems to be an increased understanding of what it means to be autistic.
However, that’s not to say that people have entirely discarded outdated myths and assumptions about autistic people. For example, a YouGov poll commissioned by Autistica revealed that almost four in 10 adults in Britain incorrectly believe autistic people lack empathy. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Many autistic people are highly empathetic, and although autistic people may have communication differences, most autistic people value and maintain strong, healthy friendships and relationships.
Neuroinclusive policies benefit everyone. Inclusive practices can be the difference between an autistic person thriving or being shut out of a space entirely. Something as simple as offering a quiet room, supporting flexible working or allowing people to use their own tools to self-regulate (like wearing headphones, for example) can have a hugely positive impact.
A good example of this is that throughout 2023 and 2024, we supported Sir Robert Buckland’s Review of Autism Employment. This report focused on how people and policymakers can support more autistic people into employment.
One thing we repeatedly heard was that employers want to do the right thing by their neurodivergent employees but that they don’t know where best to start. That’s why we created the Neurodiversity Employers Index (the NDEI®), which is an evidence-based framework for employers to champion workplace neuroinclusion. This framework has had a positive effect on autistic people and their colleagues alike, as there are so many benefits to creating a supportive, neuroinclusive work environment to both individuals and organisations!
Historically, the representation of autistic people in the media has relied on so many outdated stereotypes, the sorts that we are proactively trying to dispel. When many people think of autistic representation in popular culture, they tend to think of savants like the character from the film Rain Man, or of people with intense special interests in science or maths like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. That’s not at all the case! These depictions are frequently inaccurate, spread harmful tropes and myths, and do not represent how diverse autistic people truly are.
Stigmatising attitudes and a lack of understanding from neurotypical or people who aren’t autistic can make life difficult for autistic people. This can affect their careers, social lives, and even their access to healthcare and mental health services.
Authentic representation is so powerful, which is one of the reasons why it was crucial that our Smiley Award-winning charity film ‘Our World, 2030’ had an all-autistic cast. The film was also developed in collaboration with autistic people and their families, so the experiences depicted were true to life.
Making accurate information as easy to access as possible can reduce the risk of these stereotypes being unintentionally spread further. That’s why we are proactively working to change attitudes towards autistic people, and why we have prioritised this as one of our six 2030 Goals.
We have so many exciting research projects on the go at the moment!
One especially exciting project that we are getting ready to launch in May 2025 is around making public transport more inclusive and accessible for autistic and fellow neurodivergent people. We want to learn about the challenges neurodivergent people face when using public transport, and how to overcome them. By working with neurodivergent people, we plan to release recommendations as to how to make public transport more neuroinclusive. Everyone has a part to play, whether they are transportation providers, policymakers or members of the public.
We also recently launched an app called the Tips Hub. Created by and for the autistic community, it is a safe space where autistic people, their families, and the professionals who work with them can access evidence-based resources and everyday tips for navigating the world on their phone for free.
We’re also shortly reopening the window for businesses and organisations to participate in the Neurodiversity Employers Index (the NDEI®).
If you’d like to read more about our current projects, I’d encourage you to look at our projects page: https://www.autistica.org.uk/our-research/research-projects.
At Autistica, we believe that research is the best way to improve, understand and changes lives for the better. Working together with autistic people, we fund and conduct groundbreaking research that proves what approaches work and which ones don’t. We use this research-based evidence to advise and influence everyone from researcher to politicians and policymakers to implement proven solutions that change autistic people's lives.
We have six ambitious Goals that we are wanting to achieve by 2030, which were developed from a priority-setting exercise involving over 1000 autistic people and their families. Our Goals include adapting public spaces to be more accessible to neurodivergent people, doubling the employment rate of autistic people, and changing attitudes towards autistic people.
For Our Neurotypical or Non-autistic Readers, What Are Three Ways They Can Best Support Those Around Them Who Are Autistic?
Here are three powerful ways that you can support autistic people:
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
National Autistic Society. The UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families, NAS has been providing support, guidance and advice since 1962. Learn more here.
Ambitious about Autism. This charity specialises in autism education and run pioneering education services for autistic children and young people. Support them here.
Autistica. Autistica is the UK’s leading autism research and campaigning charity, creating breakthroughs to enable autistic people to live happy, healthy, long lives. Find out more.
This article aligns with the UN SDGs Reduced Inequalities and Good Health and Wellbeing.
