Awareness Raising

What is autism? 

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental disability that can cause significant challenges with non-verbal and verbal communication, behaviours, and social interaction. 

Each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges. 

Some common signs of autism include: 

• Avoiding eye contact or engaging with limited eye contact. 

• Distinct or unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, or feel. Also, unusual reactions to change in routines. 

• Delayed language development. 

• Displaying repetitive behaviors, for example, repeating words or phrases, flapping hands, rocking, or spinning, etc. 

Some frequently asked questions: 

Can someone contract autism from another person? (Is it contagious?) 

No, autism is not contagious. 

Can autism be cured? 

There is no known cure for autism. However, there are evidence-based interventions (treatments) and support strategies that can help. The focus should be on acceptance, love, support, treatment, and skills development so that persons with autism can reach their full potential. Also, it is important to focus on early screening, diagnosis, and intervention for children (under 5 years of age). It will make a big difference as they grow up. 

Some Important facts about autism: 

Each person with autism has different abilities and varying needs that can evolve over time. 

While some people with autism can live independently, others have severe disabilities that require life-long care and support. 

Do: 

• Do focus on the strengths of persons with autism and provide support to help them overcome challenges. 

• Do contact a medical doctor or any organization providing services for persons with autism in the country if you suspect someone has autism. 

• Do show kindness, empathy, support, and love to persons with autism, and to their parents, caregivers, and other family members. 

Do not: 

• Do not use stigmatizing words to refer to persons with autism. For example, do not call them ‘afflahun’, ‘ehfulehfu’, ‘fool-fool’, or ‘debul’. 

• Do not subject them to harmful treatments. For example, do not take persons with autism to a native doctor since bad things may be done to them. 

• Do not abandon persons with autism in a bush or an unsafe area because it will expose them to danger. Nothing good can come from that.