Autism The Need for Networking and Global Understanding

1. Autism � The Need for Networking and Global Understanding Glasgow, 06.06.07 Luke Beardon Senior Lecturer in Autism The Autism Centre Sheffield Hallam University

2. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Should this ever happen? Late diagnosis Poor self esteem/understanding of self No autism input Sectioned Psychiatric secure unit Under arrest Unfit to plead Secure hospital

3. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Networking Sharing of ideas, ideals, and understanding Communicating effectively and strategically Input of specialism as and when needed Working collectively towards a common goal � to better support individuals with autism

4. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Whose responsibility? Lack of autism specificity in much service provision Autism specific or autism friendly? Autism friendly services could be defined as those within generic environments but with an element of autism-specificity within service delivery, as opposed to autism-specific services where both the environment and the service has been adapted to the specific needs of the individual with autism Who is responsible for ensuring the individual with autism is fully (and preventatively) supported? Parents? Education? Social Work? Health? The real triad!

5. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre The Nature of Autism Areas of neuro-developmental difference Qualitatively different cognitive processes Spectrum 'condition' of neurodiversity If autism is not understood then bad practice will prevail Therefore � all provision requires autism specificity in delivery

6. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Services Include� Diagnosis Post diagnostic support Counselling Employment Higher education Residential, day, and respite Penal system and criminal justice Self directed support Benefits agencies Public and health sector

7. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Autism and Ethical Considerations Autism does not necessarily mean disability � I think that the many people with autism are highly intelligent, even those with a 'label' of learning disability The vast majority of problems encountered by people with autism are because of everybody else! People with autism can help us to understand � if we only let them

8. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre So......... People with ASDs will all be unique and individual May share similar behaviours � BUT we must not assume that causality of behaviour is the same for each individual Will always have autism � BUT the way in which the individual copes with daily life will change, dependent on, for example: setting environment support time

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10. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre NT Impairment Communication Don�t say what they mean, ambiguous, lies, trivialities, poor comprehension of autism communications Social interaction Over reliance on others, need for dependency, major time wasting on social irrelevancies, overbearing need for social status, lack of ability to enjoy independent time Theory of mind Lies, lack of directness � �does my bum look big in this?� Executive functioning Lack of precision, disorganised, lack of ability to understand the consequences of behaviour on the autism population Sensory processing Poor NTs, who knows what you are missing out on�

11. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre So� Responsibility should lie just as much � if not more so - with the NT population to adapt and change as it currently does with people with autism

12. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Autism and Crime � personal research Some people with autism break the law Some individuals could be regarded as criminals But should all individuals with ASDs be considered as criminals Can autism specific understanding and sharing of information help?

13. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Example Case Study 1 Crime: selling drugs Verdict: guilty Diagnosis: Asperger Syndrome Adult, male, aged 22 Outcome: AS not taken into consideration, branded as a criminal

14. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre The Real Story Desperate to make friends Understands that to do so it is a good idea to agree to things Agrees to sell drugs in return for friendship of local gangs Autism specific elements: Theory of Mind literal interpretation poor social understanding Dysexecutive functioning Weak central coherence

15. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Example Case Study 2 Crime: 'Sexual' offender Verdict: guilty Diagnosis: autism Adult male Outcome: almost branded as paedophile

16. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre The Real Story Complex autism condition Obsessive desire to understand gender disparity Lack of prior education Logical solution to problem Autism specific elements: Lack of Theory of Mind Rigidity of thought process No social awareness No understanding of consequences Following input from an autism project individual receives appropriate support

17. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Example Case Study 3 Crime: sexual deviancy Behaviour Prosopagnosia Outcome � very embarrassed psychology department

18. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre Going Too Far Not recognising the very real problems that autism/AS present for the individual can mean a lack of appropriate support A lack of learning disability is not synonymous with a lack of need for support Support should be positive for the individual, not necessarily in line with neurotypical value systems 'Normalisation' is unethical and discriminatory Rights for the individual mean recognition of need and the right to appropriate support

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20. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre The Way Forward Better understanding Better practice in diagnostic clinicians Doing away with global policies that are generic and of little relevance or adaptation to take autism into account Paradigm shift in societal values and expectations Changes in NT behaviour

21. Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre