All about me What makes me unique and special and wonderful to know!
Everybody is different in their own way
Some people find it hard to walk; they may use a wheel chair or have a limp
Some people find it hard to see; they may use a white stick or have a dog
Some people find it hard to hear; they may wear hearing aids and use sign language to communicate
Some people find it hard to read; they may get extra help with their reading
Some people find it hard to concentrate; they may have help with listening and following instructions
We are all DIFFERENT in different ways and most of us need a little bit of help from other people.
This is what my Mum is like
This is what my Dad is like
This is what my sister is like
This is what my brother is like
These are the things I really like
This is what my family say I m good at
This is what the people in school say I m good at
My brain is AMAZING My brain controls my body. It works a bit like a computer. Sometimes it is fast and busy, other times it is slow and steady. A computer runs different programmes for different things internet, writing, games, drawing, music, pictures. Most computers do the same things just in different ways.
What is different about my brain? The brain has lots and lots of circuits, millions in fact. confused confused Sometimes the circuits get a bit and wire up differently. This can cause you to think and talk and behave differently to some other people. But that s OK. Its good to be different!
Think about autism as like a train track; different tracks taking you to the same place
Think about autism as like a map; different roads taking you to the same place
Me and My Talking Sometimes I say the same words over and over again. Sometimes I ask lots and lots of questions
Sometimes I like talking about my favourite toys and interests. I don t always know when to stop. Sometimes I find it hard to talk about new things or things I m just not interested in.
Listening Sometimes it is hard to hear what people are saying, especially when it is noisy.
Understanding Sometimes I don t understand what people are saying because it sounds like an alien language from another planet
Concentrating Sometimes I can t listen to what people are saying because I am THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE I can loose concentration
gobble, gobble gobble, gobble Conversation gobble, gobble gobble, gobble I don t really understand what a conversation is. I don t think people should say anything unless it is something interesting. Some people talk too much, fast too and they don t make any sense to me.
Instructions First Then Next Afterwards Instructions can be very confusing and I find it hard to remember more than one or two at a time
All my senses I am very sensitive to noise. Loud noises can frighten me or upset me. Other people who are like me (5 million of us in the United Kingdom) might not like the taste of some foods, or the feel of some clothes or some strong smells. Some don t like busy crowds or open spaces.
Friends I m the sort of person who likes to be with adults or older kids. They will listen to me and play the things I like. I like having people to play with but I also like to be on my own. IT IS PEACEFUL. I don t always understand when people say they have a best friend. What does that mean?
Rules In school there are lots of rules. I like to follow the rules as they make sense. I can get cross if children break the rules, like talking when the teacher has asked for everyone to be quiet. Rules make life easier for me to understand. Its better if they are written down for me to see.
Change I don t really like too many changes, especially if people surprise me I like to know what is happening and when I can get upset if the change happens suddenly - without warning I notice even little changes such as chairs been moved around or things in the wrong place
Alien World Sometimes my world seems like an Strange words alien world Weird faces Awful smells Odd actions Weird sounds
Playing what? Some kids seem to play all kinds of games that I don t know. Its so confusing. Some games don t seem to have rules. I like games, but I want to play them properly. No cheating! And I like to win!
No control Sometimes I loose control and I don t know why hit scream kick bite
I have autism spectrum disorder Doctors say I have a disorder called autism Nobody can catch it and it doesn t go away I have it for life It makes me who I am I m very special and lots of people love me
Who I am Lots of people like me in school I know lots of things other kids don t know I have a great memory I can concentrate for a long time on interesting things I m good at following rules
Not an excuse Autism is not an excuse for not learning in school or not following Mum s instructions Autism doesn t make people naughty Autism means you can learn new things, work hard in school, help out at home, play sport, read books, watch TV JUST LIKE OTHER CHILDREN
My name is I am years old I am proud to have autism
These are my hopes and dreams for the future