Chris and Penny's story
“We loved the opportunity to be able to represent what we experience and put it out there for everyone.”
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Public spaces can be unpredictable
You can show up by:
Being kind and empathetic
Not staring, tutting or making unhelpful comments when someone is distressed
Giving them space and time
suggesting quiet, safe spaces nearby to them or their parent/carer
School can be overwhelming
Teachers and support staff can show up by:
Making the school or classroom environment more autism-friendly – take our training in understanding autism and supportive approaches to learn more
Making adjustments for autistic pupils with sensory sensitivities, like allowing them to wear ear defenders
Creating a safe space for the pupil to talk about their feelings, to support their wellbeing
Providing options during break times, such as planned activities or use of quiet areas.
Support at work
You can show up by:
Offering adjustments for job interviews, such as sending the questions in advance
Considering the sensory environment of your workplace, such as the lighting, noise level and any smells
Asking autistic colleagues what reasonable adjustments they need at work. Many adjustments are easy to make, and they are often cheap or free – learn more in our Employment advice section
Making work social events more autism-friendly, by giving options for how to engage and considering the sensory environment of venues
Working toward our Autism Accreditation awards for inclusive workplaces.
Restaurants can be overwhelming
The public and restaurant owners can show up by:
Being kind if you notice someone struggling in a busy environment. A supportive look can make a big difference
Doing things to reduce noise and bright lights. Autistic people can be more sensitive, so think about turning down music and having areas with different lighting
Offering quiet dining areas
Giving autistic people time to process information and make decisions such as what to choose from the menu
Working towards our Autism Friendly Award, to ensure your staff know how to help autistic people and your premises are autism-friendly
Autistic friends may need support
You can show up by:
Helping them prepare by explaining what to expect
Offering to be a social ally, supporting them at busy social events
Being understanding if the person needs to take time out
Accepting self-regulating behaviour such as stimming as their way to keep calm and happy
Planning with them what you should do if they get overwhelmed.
We're showing up
We're going to show up by:
Challenging the discrimination faced by autistic people
Fighting to protect benefits for autistic people so they can live the life they choose
Campaigning for the services in social care that autistic people need
Fighting for every autistic child to get a good education
Celebrating the potential and power of autistic people in the workplace
Fighting to reduce waiting times for autism assessments
Space and time to recover
Kiran’s son, Ibraheem, sometimes experiences distressed behaviour in the playground or at the supermarket due to overwhelm or too much sensory input. Kiran is always so grateful to those members of the public or staff who ask if they can help or give them the space and time they need for Ibraheem to recover.
Friendship and support
Matthew has sometimes been prevented from doing new things because of a lack of confidence. Lottie, a friend from work, has helped him to take on a triathlon by training with him every week at their local open water swimming venue. They've also climbed Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis together.
Moments of kindness
Nick was supported by East Midlands Railway guard, Becky, on a recent train journey. Becky noticed Nick was overwhelmed and checked to see if he was ok and made sure he didn't miss his stop.
Reasonable adjustments at work
George works as an IT service desk engineer at a financial services company. His employer provides reasonable adjustments such as having 1-2-1 meetings with his mentor Paula and providing a structured list of tasks each day. This helps George manage his anxiety and prioritise his work.
Support at school
Edward goes to mainstream school, which he sometimes finds overwhelming. To help him and other autistic students, the headteacher introduced training for staff on how to support them. She also adapted the school to provide more break-out areas and sensory rooms.
Small acts of consideration
Sriman and his mum Ranga go to their local temple and then their favourite vegetarian restaurant once a month. The restaurant manager turns down the lights and music because Sriman finds them very overwhelming. This helps him to stay calm and focus on enjoying his food.
Sharing joy
Georgina often flaps her hands to help her stay calm or when she is extremely happy. This is a form of ‘stimming’, which many autistic people do. Unfortunately, people can often stare or make unkind comments when they see autistic people stimming. Georgina has a good way of dealing with this. She often asks people to flap along with her because she wants them to share the joy.
Remembering individual differences
Porcha and Eddie met at school and have become best friends. They love music and making each other laugh. They are both autistic, but that doesn't mean they are the same. Their friendship is strong because they understand and support each other's individual needs.
