There is a widely reported increase in awareness about autism around the world, probably because there is a long-awaited increase in awareness, identification, diagnosis and capacity to serve the autistic community. At Kent we want to nurture the culture of discourse about different ways of thinking and being, in order to better understand one another and create a supportive atmosphere for everyone to thrive in our diverse university community.

What does it mean to be autistic?

Autism is not an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way. If you’re autistic, you’re autistic your whole life: it’s something you’re born with and is often first noticed when you’re very young, although many people don’t know they are autistic until they’re older. Autism can affect the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them. It is considered a spectrum condition, meaning the way one person experiences their autism can differ a lot to another person with the same diagnosis. Some well known people from all walks of life are autistic, for example, environmental activist Greta Thunberg, actor Anthony Hopkins, writer and outspoken poverty issues campaigner Jack Monroe and film maker Tim Burton. 

Every experience of autism is unique, and no one person will identify with every negative or positive feature of autism. Some autistic people need little or no support, while others may benefit from help from people who know lots about the condition. 

Some difficulties often experienced by autistic people are:

• Feeling overwhelmed by social interaction
• High levels of anxiety
• Specific sensory needs (noise/ light/ physical sensation)
• Struggling with changes to routine
• Difficulty processing lots of information

Some positive features of autism*:

• Attention to detail (thoroughness, accuracy)
• Deep focus (concentration, freedom from distraction)
• Observational skills (listen, look, learn approach; fact finding)
• Absorb and retain facts (excellent long term memory; excellent recall)
• Visual skills (visual learning and recall; detail-focused)
• Expertise (in-depth knowledge; high level of skills)
• Methodical approach (analytical; Spotting patterns, repetition)
• Novel approaches (unique thought processes; innovative solutions)
• Creativity (distinctive imagination; expression of ideas)
• Tenacity and resilience (determination; challenge opinions)
• Integrity (honesty; loyalty; commitment)
• Accepting of difference (less likely to judge others; may question norms)