** PLEASE NOTE the below is a very brief overview about autism. If you want to learn more about autism and the experiences of autistic people, there is a very wide variety of resources on the Camden Learning and Development website covering a range of topics including Care Act assessments, Sensory Needs, Criminal Justice and Mental Health.

What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong difference in how people think, perceive the world, and interact with others. It is usually thought to be a neurological condition.

An autistic person may see, hear, feel and experience the world differently from non-autistic people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be ‘cured’. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental and positive aspect of their identity.

Autism is not a single set of ‘symptoms’ or characteristics. Autistic people are very diverse and can actually be more different from each other in interests and skills than non-autistic people are. This is why autism is called a ‘spectrum’. It is often said that ‘if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person’.

National Autistic Society provides further information about what autism is.

Language and terminology

Over the years there have been many different terms and phrases used to describe autism. In the Practice Guide we have chosen to use the term “autistic adults” as that is currently how many autistic people choose to describe themselves.

Autistic adults might identify as “Disabled” as the term is understood through the Social Model of Disability. The model states that people have impairments and long-term conditions. However, the oppression, exclusion and discrimination people with impairments face is not an inevitable consequence of having an impairment. It is caused instead by the way society is organised. People with impairments are ‘disabled’ by the barriers in society which exclude and discriminate.  

It is important to acknowledge that people have different preferences when describing themselves and their autism. It is always best to ask the individual themselves what their preference is.

Some helpful information about autism and terminology is available.