THE everyday challenges autistic people can face when they leave their homes is the subject of a new film released today to mark the beginning of World Autism Awareness Week.
The video and the results of a survey have been released by the National Autistic Society as part of its public awareness campaign, Too Much Information, revealing the hidden isolation faced by many people with autism.
The National Autistic Society Scotland said there will also be fundraising and awareness events taking place across the country.
More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum – around 58,000 people in Scotland.
The survey, which questioned more than 2000 autistic people, found nine out of 10 respondents said unexpected changes, such as delays on public transport, make them feel anxious.
More than half said fear of unexpected changes has stopped them from going on a bus or train, and 75 per cent said this leaves them feeling isolated.
Being autistic means seeing, hearing and feeling the world in a different, often more intense way to other people. Autistic people often find social situations difficult and may struggle to filter out the sounds, smells, sights and information they experience, which can leave them feeling overwhelmed, particularly in busy public places.
Christopher Miller, 28, from Girvan, Ayrshire, said the video reflects his own experiences of travelling on public transport. He said: “On one occasion on the Glasgow Subway, I had to cover my ears and eyes due to the loud noise and shaking of the train – I just wanted it to end.
“This was very embarrassing as everyone was looking at me. It made my anxiety even worse. Being on board a train or bus can make me feel trapped, and in turn, it can be an effort to breathe.”
Fiona McGrevey of the National Autistic Society Scotland, added: “We won’t accept a world where autistic people are shut away. We know people don’t set out to be judgmental towards autistic people. The problem is they often don’t see the autism, they just see somebody acting in a way that isn’t familiar to them.
“We can’t make the trains run on time. But we can all make a big difference this World Autism Awareness Week. We have lots of ideas on our website autism.org.uk.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel