- 3 updates
Public 'still failing to understand' autism
The public are still failing to understand the challenges faced by someone living with autism, charity Dimensions said. Their call coincided with the beginning of World Autism Awareness Month, when landscapes across the globe are lit up in blue.
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Autism mum: 'He can't understand people'
The mum of a six-year-old boy with autism has talked to Daybreak about the daily challenges she faces caring for her son.
Cheryl Broadfoot survives on "three to five hours sleep" per night in order to look after her son Bobby, who has not spoken since he was three.
'27% of autistic people' needs not met by supermarkets
Some 27% of autism sufferers want supermarkets to be more aware of their condition, a charity has found.
Data released by the charity Dimensions found:
- Nearly a third of sufferers say they wish supermarkets were more autism friendly.
- Some 32% want restaurants to be more ware.
- A further 17% feel their needs are not met when going to the leisure centre
- And 10% want shops to be better with autistic customers.
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Charity: Greater understanding of autism needed
The public do not understand the difficulty some autism sufferers have completing every day tasks and more needs to be done to make them aware, a charity has said.
Statistics released exclusively to Daybreak exposed the lack of understanding most people had of autism and the effect it has on a sufferer's ability to communicate.
Autism is a spectrum condition, meaning symptoms present themselves with different severity.
Some sufferers experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours, while some 25% remain non-verbal for the whole of their life.