Autism Awareness: Everyday Life and Home

First published for April 2024, this article considers what understanding and acceptance mean in everyday life — including choosing a home that suits the person.

Autism awareness and acceptance in 2024

April brings different autism awareness and acceptance campaigns. The National Autistic Society’s World Autism Acceptance Week ran from 2 to 8 April 2024. Its campaign used a colour theme. These were distinct from the separate Autism Speaks “Light It Up Blue” campaign.

Whatever the campaign, listening to autistic people and making practical changes should continue throughout the year.

Understanding the individual

According to the National Autistic Society, the autism spectrum disorder is ‘a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.’

Autism doesn’t affect everyone the same, so every person with autism should be treated as an individual. Your characteristics might mean you need a unique care plan that meets your specific needs and we, for example, take this care plan into consideration when shortlisting properties for a tenant with autism to live in.

It’s important that people with autism have a voice and feel heard. Listening to their feelings and understanding what makes them safe and comfortable is crucial for supporting them – not just for us, but for anyone in a person with autism’s life.

A home that suits the person

Some people with autism are overstimulated by certain senses. Processing sensory information that many of us take for granted can be challenging for them. Overstimulation can cause anxiety or pain, which may be distressing. A suitable home should take the person’s sensory needs seriously, including light, sound, textures and access to quiet space.

Asking an autistic person about any sensory issues affecting them could go a long way in making them feel comfortable and safe. For us, we make sure to take this into account when providing homes for people with autism. The National Autistic Society explains sensory processing differences and why they vary from person to person.

What might an adult with autism get distressed by?

Their social or physical environment
Compounding mental or physical health issues
Changing their routine or circumstances
Difficulties communicating

How can a person with autism feel included in their community?

It can be lonely living with autism if you don’t get the support you need. This sometimes happens because autism can go undetected for many years. The NHS explains that autistic people are more likely to experience some mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. This does not mean every autistic person has the same needs or experience.

Someone with autism might feel excluded from their local community or certain hobbies because they aren’t supported with their disability. It’s crucial for those people to access and use professional support and enrich their lives with hobbies, passions and interests.

We all need to pursue interests to maintain happiness and wellbeing and people with autism are no different. Having access to interests and relationships can help people feel included; it does not replace appropriate mental health support when needed. Having autism doesn’t stop you from enjoying things like sports, dancing, reading, music or anything else!

Jessica-Jane Applegate, a Paralympian with Asperger’s and Mencap ambassador, won gold in the S14 200m freestyle at London 2012. ParalympicsGB records that she was the first British S14 swimmer to top the podium at those Games. In interviews, Applegate has talked about how her coach creates a routine with her that meets her needs as a person with an intellectual impairment: “We have a timetable for everything, so I have a good routine. We make plans to keep calm and we always have a backup plan, so I feel safe.”

The importance of good support services when living with autism

“Social workers can make a difference to autistic adults by working with and alongside them. Good social work can enable autistic adults to get the assistance they need to manage how autism affects them.”

– Godfred Boahen, British Association of Social Workers (NICE and SCIE quick guide)

How can I support someone with autism?

Be patient and allow them time to communicate; build a relationship that lets them process information and make decisions for themselves.
Stay on topic if possible; don’t stray from the purpose of a conversation.
Collaborate with the person to create a personalised plan; ensure their strengths, needs and wishes are all met.
Find out and respect any preferences for how they refer to their autism.

How we help people with autism every day

At Zetetick, understanding people’s housing and communication needs is part of our everyday work. We provide housing and tenancy support, alongside care partners who provide care.

We want to increase awareness of autism alongside our mission, enabling others to consider the impact autism has on individuals’ daily lives and how they can help people with autism feel more at home, wherever they are.

Autism Awareness can be an eye-opening experience, as you learn more about the daily struggles people with autism face and discover how you can make a subtle but important impact on their everyday life. It makes our local communities more inclusive and enables us to change long-held stigmas that marginalise vulnerable people from our society.

At Zetetick, we work towards this aim as part of our vision. We put our tenants with learning disabilities or autism first and empower them to make decisions about their housing and care.

Our BEDROCK values form the foundation of how we work. With these in mind, we operate with compassion, kindness and care in how we find our tenants a home that meets their unique needs.