Autism is a processing difference that can affect the way that a person communicates, interacts and experiences the world around them. Being autistic can have an impact on many areas of a person’s life. Autistic people have differences in three key areas:
- Social understanding and communication
- Flexibility, information processing and understanding
- Sensory processing and integration
While autistic people share some similar characteristics, they are also different from each other. This is because autism is considered a spectrum. Each autistic person is unique with a range of different strengths and needs. It is similar to how all neurotypical people are unique with a range of strengths and needs.
A high number of pupils in Newcastle are diagnosed with autism. There are also children and young people in education who are not yet diagnosed as autistic, meaning this figure is likely higher. All school staff are likely to work with autistic pupils at some stage.