Confronting ignorance on autism

Published on Monday 29 October 2007 01:14

FOR a condition first identified more than 60 years ago, it is remarkable that so little is generally known about autism. This lack of understanding is even more remarkable considering that autism spectrum disorders are estimated by the National Autism Society to affect the lives of more than 500,000 families in the UK.

To help combat this widespread ignorance, the campaign by NAS Scotland, launched today, is to be warmly welcomed. One in every 100 people in Scotland is affected by autism - a total of about 50,000 - and the campaign, supported by new research, reveals some of the problems facing families affected by the condition. People with autism are seven times more likely to be caught up in the criminal justice system because of poor understanding of the way it can cause unusual behaviour.

One reason for the lack of understanding is that autism is in some respects an "invisible" illness: sufferers are not physically disabled in the same way that a person with cerebral palsy may be; they do not require wheelchairs and they "look" just like anybody without the disability. Due to this invisible nature, it can be difficult to create awareness and understanding of the condition. It has also come to be surrounded by damaging myths and misconceptions. So this campaign deserves the fullest recognition and support.