In pursuit of a degree you learn many things, some useful, some not so useful. While in pursuit of my degree I learned a great deal about Autism. Autism is a complex developmental disability that is often misunderstood. There are so many misunderstandings and myths out there about Autism that I would like to share with you what my degree taught me about Autism.

Autism is a developmental disability that usually presents itself in the first three years of life. A parent might first recognize it in a toddler by their lack of eye contact or disinterest in interacting with family members. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that impairs normal brain function and causes a change in the development of a person’s social interaction and communication skills.

Autism is a wide-spectrum disorder, which means that it can present itself in many ways. No two people with Autism will have the same exact symptoms. Some people with Autism will have only a few mild symptoms, while others will have more severe symptoms. Someone with a milder form of Autism might simply seem socially clumsy where someone with a severe form of Autism may not be interested in interacting socially with other people at all.

An Autistic person often struggle with empathy and lacks the ability to understand the feelings of others. Someone who spends a lot of time talking to an Autistic person will often comment that they feel they are talking at them instead of to them. An Autistic person may be especially sensitive to sensory changes. They may find physical contact, certain smells, noises, and lights to be upsetting and startling. Many do better if they are given a warning that there will be a loud noise or a bright light; they need to mentally process the change before it happens.

It is very common for an Autistic person to have tics and seem to get obsessed about things. Someone with autism can seem to have a “one track mind” It’s almost like their thoughts get “stuck” on something and they have difficulty moving on.

A person with Autism feels emotions like pain and love and sadness just like anyone else. The difference is in the way they process and express those feelings. What my education and degree really taught me about Autism is that inside, an Autistic person is just like everyone else.