Is It OK to Ask Questions about Autism?
Abi Rawlins
“Ten Tips for Teachers” by Catherine Frizzell
Illustrated by Abi Rawlins
Foreword by Michael Barton
Foreword
I originally met Abi and Catherine at the Autism Show in London on their quest to produce a video explaining what autism is like for a variety of children, from those of primary-school age to me as a young adult. Naturally, I was keen to get on board to give my insight into the world of autism; however, what struck me most was their level of fascination and passion towards the subject of autism, which rivals that of some autistic people who devote themselves to a particular topic!
They’re certainly not taking on an easy task. Defining how autism affects a person can be extremely complicated, as autism itself is a very broad subject – it covers every aspect of a person’s life. While this means that some people struggle to understand it, it’s often the case that simple steps can be taken to reduce many of the anxieties and problems that autistic people face.
Sometimes it’s just a question of being open-minded and trying to understand things from an autistic person’s point of view. Even if something they say or do appears to make no sense, they will almost always have a perfectly logical explanation as an answer.
Many professionals studying the subject research it in a very clinical manner, studying autistic people’s behaviours and contemplating what the causes behind them may be. While this research is undoubtedly valuable, I think it’s equally important to take the authors’ approach and find out about autism from autistic people themselves (there’s an expression, ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’, which means exactly that). People often do not appreciate the fact that autism comes as a wide spectrum. The autism community has a saying – ‘Once you’ve met one person with
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autism, you’ve met one person with autism’. This emphasises the point that two people can be very different, despite having the same diagnosis.
This book targets people interested in autism and also explains autism in a very clear and understandable manner. It will not only be a useful resource for children, who are often keen to learn about new topics, but it should also enlighten adults about the ways of explaining autism to others. While this book could have been very short (i.e. Is it OK to ask questions? First and only page:
Yes), Abi and Catherine have taken the hands-on approach of asking primary-school aged children what questions they would ask about autism and then answering them. This simple yet effective approach is exactly what is needed to educate people on what they need to know about autism.
Michael Barton
author and illustrator of
It’s Raining Cats and Dogs and
A Different Kettle of Fish
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Introduction
Dear Parents, Schools, Teachers and Allies,
Autism is more common than a lot of people think. There are currently about 700,000 autistic1 people in the United Kingdom. Being aware of autism and how it can affect people at school or in the workplace will help us make the world a more autism-friendly place.
All the questions in this book were asked by primary-school students. They told us they want to learn about autism so they can be more considerate and understanding of their peers. Their questions are important and merit further exploration. We might not have all the answers yet but we do know enough to educate and empower ourselves with the basics.
As a society we often shy away from talking openly about autism. Some people have told us
they are worried they might say the wrong thing, so they end up saying nothing at all. We invite you to use this book as a tool to encourage open and sensitive conversations. On each page you will find digestible information and thoughtful illustrations to help you facilitate discussions about autism within a positive framework.
One of the best ways to learn about autism is to listen to the experiences and views of autistic people. All the answers in this book have been written in collaboration with autistic people and their families. Without their insight this book would not have been possible.
When you ask questions about autism, each autistic person may have a different answer. Think of the answers in this book as a starting point for
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your own discussions. Talk about the different ways you could approach each question and encourage young readers to be mindful of other people’s feelings and perspectives.
Autism awareness is good for everyone. Feeling accepted by others is important, but being accepting of others is just as important. We believe everyone should play an active role in creating an environment that acknowledges and values difference. We invite you to create safe and facilitating spaces to share this book and nurture an ethos of collaborative responsibility.
Note
1We use the term ‘autistic’ throughout this book because individuals on the spectrum have told us they prefer to be called ‘an autistic person’, rather than ‘a person who has autism’. One reason for this is that you can’t separate a person from the way their brain works, it’s an intrinsic part of who they are. Saying that a person ‘has autism’ suggests that autism is something separate that a person can ‘have’, rather than something they ‘are’. When you ‘have’ something, it implies less permanence and more potential for things such as cures. Many people are proud of their autistic perspectives and they feel that ‘being autistic’ is not a negative thing, nor does it stop them from having many other qualities and attributes.
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What Is Autism?
Dear Parents, Schools, Teachers and Allies,
In this chapter we will look at some questions and answers that introduce us to the world of autism. Throughout this book we consider the common characteristics of autism. However, it’s important to remember that no two individuals are exactly the same. The word autism means different things to different people. As one young person told us, ‘We all have different abilities, we all have different needs.’
You can use this book to facilitate discussions and support others to acknowledge and embrace and answers in this book with your family, friends,
children and students. We believe that learning
