Autism Awareness Week 2023
Over the years, Autism has had many names, from Asperger’s to Kanner’s Syndrome. Autism with profiles such as ‘classic’, ‘PDA’, and ‘PDD-NOS’ plus high and low functioning labels. Although Autism is now officially known simply as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), my favourite word for Autism is ‘Takiwatanga’, which beautifully translates in the Māori language as ‘in their own space and time’.
For me, I view autism as a difference. A different way of thinking and a different way of experiencing the world to various degrees and intensity. While Autism can make some things more difficult, it can also offer new perspectives and creativity both inside and outside of work.
I’m what some might call a high-masking autistic. This means that colleagues don’t always know that I’m autistic, and this is the same for many autistic people who each have their own autistic experience. My visual and hearing senses are sensitive but fine-tuned. This helps me visualize playing guitar, unscrambling Rubik’s cubes, and problem-solving—all skills with transferable qualities.
While there is much to celebrate with neurodiversity, we need to remind ourselves that there is much work to be done. The last major study jointly carried out by the National Autistic Society and the Office of National Statistics found that 82.5% of working-age adults were in paid employment compared to 52.6% of disabled people and just 22% of autistic adults — this is despite an overwhelming majority wanting to work. Barriers include non-inclusive work environments, lack of reasonable adjustments, lower pay (disability pay gap at 13.8%) and lack of understanding within society, to list but a few.
Things that have helped me since working at NHCT are:
Joining a union which has empowered me with the confidence to communicate my needs to colleagues
Getting support & work coaching from Access to Work
Locating quiet spaces within easy reach in and around our trust
Connecting with other autistic colleagues in our staff network
Autism Acceptance Week is a time to celebrate our differences and recognise the value of including all within society.
On World Autism Awareness Day, I would like to say to all autistic people that the world is more beautiful and rich for your presence. Your drive for fairness and order makes the world more beautiful. Neurodiverse people everywhere: thank you for your innovation, kindness, out-of-the-box thinking, love, and patience while the world catches up with your brilliant minds!
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-employment-of-disabled-people-2022/employment-of-disabled-people-2022
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/new-data-on-the-autism-employment-gap
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/disabilitypaygapsintheuk/2021
Written by John Hugill
March 2023
