Autism and training

Sample Answer

Autism, officially known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people perceive and socialize with others. It's called a "spectrum" disorder because it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. It's not an illness or a disease to be cured; rather, it means an individual's brain works in a different way.

Key characteristics of autism often include:

Differences in social communication and interaction:

Difficulty with reciprocal social interactions (e.g., back-and-forth conversation, understanding social cues).

Challenges with nonverbal communication (e.g., eye contact, facial expressions, body language).

Difficulty making friends or preferring to be on their own.

Challenges understanding others' thoughts or feelings.

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities:

Repetitive movements (e.g., hand flapping, rocking).

Strong adherence to routines and getting upset by small changes.

Highly focused or intense interests in specific topics.

Unusual reactions to sensory input (e.g., over- or under-sensitivity to lights, sounds, textures, tastes, smells).