What is Autism?

Autism is a complex, life-long condition which affects the development of communication, social and life skills.  The extent of the autistic spectrum is wide-ranging, varying from profound severity in some to subtle problems of understanding in others.  Autism often occurs with other learning difficulties.

All those affected by autism have pronounced difficulties in:

• Communication – many things that people without autism take for granted, such as words, gestures, tones of voice and facial expressions can mean little to people with autism
• Social relationships – children and adults with autism can often be indifferent to other people, members of the public, friends and even their parents / carers
• Social imagination – abstract ideas, imaginative thought and activities are affected and people with autism can face great difficulties in generalising their experiences to different settings

With the right structured support, education and care, much can be done to help children and adults with autism to live as full and independent a life as possible.

NORSACA is here to offer that support, education and care.