“STEREOTYPES HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER FOR” SAYS AUTISM SUFFERER AS CROYDON MARK WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS WEEK
Emma Selwyn, 29, has grown up in Croydon and has autism. Emma is keen to challenge stereotypes of people with autism and has been involved in drama, appearing on stage through Access All Areas and the Performance Making Diploma at Royal Central School of Drama.
She attended Link Primary, Limpsfield Grange, Coulsdon College (sixth form), Liverpool John Moores University (BA Hons French and Japanese).
Emma says: “Stereotypes have a lot to answer for. For starters, it’s not only boys who are affected by autism. Many women are being diagnosed these days (and it’s about time, I say) and even some who – like me – don’t strictly identify as either.
“I ‘somehow’ have friends who turn to me in times of need. Surely that shows a level of empathy?
“I’ve ‘somehow’ worked in various customer-facing roles, somehow did a BA which included a year abroad, ‘somehow’ appeared on TV, in academic works and in magazines, ‘somehow’ became a professional performance artist thanks to RCSSD and Access All Area, and even ‘somehow’ been in relationships.
“What’s with the obsession with the word ‘somehow’, I hear you ask. Because many studies say I shouldn’t exist. Rather inconveniently for me and everyone I know, it’s taken a lot of money, time and flexibility on their part to get me functioning as conventionally as I do now! For this, I thank them.”
CROYDON MARK WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS WEEK
Croydon council are on a mission to increase understanding of what it means to be autistic and bust some of the most common myths surrounding the condition.
To mark the start of World Autism Awareness Week 2017 Mayor of Croydon, Cllr Wayne Trakkas Lawler was joined by borough Autism Champion Cllr Andrew Rendle; the Leader of the Council, Cllr Tony Newman; and other members of the cabinet as he raised the WAAW flag over the Town Hall.
Around 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic – although many believe that number is much higher, with a larger than average number of autistic people living in Croydon.
For WAAW 2017, Croydon council are encouraging everyone who lives or works in Croydon to participate in a free e-learning course to understand how autism affects people. Developed with help from Croydon’s Adult AutismService and people on the spectrum, the course challenges some of the most common misconceptions and aims to help people understand what it really means to live autism.
Borough Autism Champion Cllr Andrew Rendle has personal experience of living with autism, as his two youngest children both have the condition. To mark WAAW he has made a short video (watch here) and explained why he wants to increase understanding, as well as awareness of autism.
Cllr Rendle, explained: “Awareness of autism is very high but too many people just think of Rain Man or Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. It’s the understanding that has to be worked on. “Many autistic people say the biggest help for them would be simple awareness and understanding, so please go and do our brilliant e-learning course – it’s free to anyone who lives or works in Croydon and takes no time at all to complete.”
Autism is a life-long developmental condition that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people and the way they see the world around them. Understanding autism can be tricky as it is a wide spectrum and those on the spectrum will share certain difficulties, but their autism will affect them in different ways. It is also a hidden disability.
Cllr Rendle, who chairs Croydon’s Autism Partnership Board, said: “The big myths about autistic people are “they can’t hold down a job”, “it’s only kids who have autism”, “they can’t show empathy” or “it’s only boys”. All rubbish. I have three amazing children. The youngest two are autistic and they have introduced me to a fascinating world.”
He added: “It has also shown me how important the family unit is for those living with autism every day and that must be supported, especially the neurotypical siblings, that’s those not on the autism spectrum, who can miss out.”
The Autism Partnership Board brings together different services from the council and its external partners to discuss matters relevant to autism and Croydon. Recently the board invited a representative from Westfield to talk about autism-friendly design and employment for the new shopping centre.
Croydon are also expanding its special schools and has bid for a special school for children aged two -19 with a focus on employment at the end. The council is also doing a great deal through disability confident to get disabled people into employment.
Cllr Rendle said: “The autistic mind is an amazing thing and employers who don’t embrace people on the spectrum are missing out on some fabulous, dedicated employers who can think outside the box and see details we neurotypicals will miss.”
For more information, please check out:
Croydon’s Facebook Page for information and a place to talk to others Croydon Council’s autism webpages
The National Autistic Society website
This short video from the National Autistic Society (NAS). https://www.youtube.com/watch?
(Source: Croydon council press release)