Running for ASD awareness

I am running in the #SCOTTISH10K this morning, my first running event since before I had the kids.
I am not looking for any sponsorship, instead I want to raise Autism awareness.  So instead of donating cash all I am asking is you read the 10 messages (one for each kilometre I’m running) below and share them.
The following 10 messages have been compiled in consultation with adults diagnosed with ASD and parents of children diagnosed with ASD (with thanks to the members of Autism friendly UK).  We want to improve acceptance and reduce judgement within society by spreading awareness and understanding
1. Autism is an invisible disability.  Comments like ‘He/She doesn’t look autistic’ are not helpful!
2. An autistic meltdown can look a lot like a tantrum but it is not the same! In either case staring, tutting, passing comments will not help the situation (and could in fact be detrimental to those involved).  Ask if you can help (you probably can’t but the gesture will be appreciated) and then leave.
3. Autism cannot be ‘cured’ and you don’t ‘grow out of it’.  Autistic children always grow into autistic adults.  They need your acceptance and understanding too.
4. Parents of children with ASD are very often sleep deprived and can have high stress levels.  Support them by offering them coffee, listening to them and did I mention COFFEE?
5. Autism affects the whole family, siblings may often have a lot to contend with and may miss out of opportunities that their peers have.
6. Some people with Autism are ‘Non verbal’, that doesn’t mean they can’t understand you and it doesn’t mean they have nothing to say.  Their behaviour is often their way of communicating.
7. People with autism are often referred to as ‘High functioning’ or ‘low functioning’, ASD is categorised by difficulties in several areas (communication, social interactions, eye contact, sensory sensitivities, difficulties in dealing with change, repetitive behaviours, lack of imagination).  Every individual is different and may have strengths in certain areas and difficulties in others so the labels of ‘high’ or ‘low functioning’ are not always accurate.
8. Self stimulating or ‘Stimming’  is repetitive, stereotypical behaviour which can include hand flapping, spinning, rocking, jumping, repetition of words/noises/phrases.  This is a way of self regulating and can help them control their feelings and emotions, in other words they need to do it!
9. Autism is not caused by bad parenting, refrigerator mothers, vacinations, drinking/drug use in pregnancy.  It is not new and it was around when you were growing up.
10. Sensory processing disorder (SPD) and hyperacusis (extreme sound sensitivity) often goes hand in hand with autism.  This means that loud noises, bright lights, can be difficult for people with ASD to deal with and can lead to sensory overload

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Autism, different, not less!