We are delighted to launch our new campaign, It’s How You Show Up, to mark World Autism Day and World Autism Acceptance Month. 

The campaign aims to improve public understanding of autism, change attitudes and behaviour towards autistic people and highlight ways the public can show up for autistic people by making changes to make a positive difference. 

As part of the campaign, we have created a new film which features autistic father and daughter, Chris and nine-year-old Penny. Elements of the family’s real lives were incorporated into the film, including Chris’ powerful emotion when talking about his hopes for his daughter’s future in a more autism-friendly world.
 

Key findings

Our charity carried out a survey which found: 

• More than half (55%) of autistic people avoid going out because they are worried how people will treat them.
• A quarter (25%) of autistic people said they usually get a negative reaction when they say they are autistic.
• Nine in 10 autistic people (90%) have experienced poor mental health due to attitudes or perceptions of autism, and 84% have experienced social isolation.
• Nearly two thirds (64%) of UK adults surveyed by YouGov believe that autistic people face discrimination because they are autistic, and 62% want to learn how to help autistic people feel more accepted.

The top three changes autistic people wish the public would make to better support them are:

• Make small changes in environments, such as work and public spaces (78%)
• Educate themselves about autism (69%)
• Become more open-minded in the way they think people should behave (68%)

Peter Watt, Managing Director of National Programmes at the National Autistic Society, said: "Although autism understanding has improved massively in recent years, autistic people and their families still face negative perceptions that can make it harder to get helpful adjustments in their day-to-day lives, at school and work, or even preventing them from going out at all. 

"Our campaign, It’s How You Show Up, will improve public understanding about autism and change attitudes and behaviour towards autistic people. There are many simple, everyday ways the public can make a huge difference to autistic people and their families. Whether that’s taking steps to understand an autistic person’s experience of the world, allowing time for them to process information and space to regulate, or advocating for autistic colleagues in the workplace. We have lots of information and advice available on our website and invite everyone to get involved and show up for autistic people this World Autism Acceptance Month."

Chris, who features in our campaign film, said: "Autism doesn't always look how you may think it looks. Autistic people are capable, intelligent, sensitive and able - don't judge us. People have shown up for me at work by having a better understanding of me and how to be empathetic. We wanted to be a part of this campaign because, as a late diagnosed autistic man, it is important for us to help identify and show that it has been really difficult just to get to this point. We are all committed to raising the profile of autism, particularly in girls, and how to identify it and deal with it empathetically without setting people apart."

Chris Packham, National Autistic Society Celebrity Ambassador, said: "People showed up for me and it not only improved my life, it made my life possible, and sometimes it’s the smallest, simplest things which can make the biggest difference. So sometimes it doesn’t take much thought to take the right actions, come on – please show up for autistic people this spring!"

We are inviting everyone to get involved and share how they will pledge to show up for autistic people during World Autism Acceptance Month and into the future.
 

Further information 

• Find out more about our It’s How You Show Up campaign.
• Visit our pledge wall.
• Watch our new campaign film.
• Read Chris’ story.
• Read our report, How Can MPs Show Up for Autistic People?
• Get Your MP involved in the campaign.
• Support our charity by making a donation.