Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability.  This can affect communication, and people with Autism often have difficulty relating to others. They often struggle to make sense of the world and what is going on around them and this can make them anxious.

Statistics show that 1 in 100 people in the UK have Autism – more males are affected than females, but the reasons for this are unknown.

People with Autism can live independent lives, however some may require support from a care provider if they have a learning disability.

Aspergers syndrome is often displayed by some as having average/above average intelligence.  People who have Asperger Syndrome often have fewer problems with speech, but some may find it difficult to process and understand the language of others.

People with Asperger’s syndrome may also struggle to make friendships and embark on relationships.

There are three main areas of difficulty for people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

• Social communication
• Social Interaction
• Social Imagination

Advocacy and Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome

People with ASD are entitled to have support from an Advocate to express their views.  An Advocate is independent from care providers and public authority, and acts on behalf of the client.

Either the person can instruct their Advocate of their wishes (instructed Advocacy) or if the person cannot express their views independently, an Advocate would be required to act upon the best interests of the client (non- instructed Advocacy).

Useful links

National Autistic Society