AUTISM

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability. It is part of the autism spectrum and is sometimes referred to as an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or an ASD. The word 'spectrum' is used because, while all people with autism share three main areas of difficulty, their condition will affect them in very different ways. Some are able to live relatively 'everyday' lives; others will require a lifetime of specialist support. Around 75% of people with Autism also have associated mild to severe learning difficulties. And it affects approximately four times as many males as females. The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the 'triad of impairments'. They are:

• Impairment of Social Interaction
• Impairment of Language and Communication
• Impairment of Flexibility of Thought

The Triad of Impairments is a clear and widely used model for understanding the complexities of ASD. It does not describe all of the characteristics that may be associated with the individual. People with ASD may also experience difficulties in sensory processing.

Many individuals with ASD display various levels of challenging behaviour, these are a consequence of their difficulties, their behaviour may be directed at a person, but it is not personal.

All people with Autism can benefit from a timely diagnosis and access to appropriate services and support. By thinking of Autism in terms of a culture with its own rules, we can create a more supportive environment for our residents to help them cope more easily with the demands of daily living.

This is why at Fairmont Residential we provide a relatively low level of visual and auditory stimulation; avoiding strong bright colour schemes and lighting and keep pictures and ornamentation sparse and distinct avoiding high noise levels, and constant background noise. The environment is consistent, predictable and structured, avoiding changes in furniture layout and keeping specific rooms to specific activities.

We communicate to the residents clearly in their preferred communication method, avoiding over-powering them with too much information and we allow them sufficient time to process what has been communicated.

The characteristics described occur frequently in people with Autism, but no individual will display all these characteristics.