Learning with Autism

June 1, 2017

• Advice for Parents

Recently, Sesame Street, the popular American children’s programme, welcomed a new arrival. Her name is Julia, and she is a Muppet who has autism. The inclusion of a character with autism aims to promote awareness of children when it comes to learning, and to help battle any misconceptions around autism. In the first scene with Julia and Alan, the presenter, explain to Big Bird what autism means for Julia, making sure it’s clear that it’s different for each individual. The shows commissioned research into the disorder in a report called Seeing the Amazing in All Children and has a wealth of resources on its website for parents wanting to learn more, or to help their children improve interactions with children with autism.

Autism is more common than people might think. There are about 700,000 people on the autistic spectrum in the UK, which is the same as about 1 in 100 people. It is describes as a ‘hidden disability’, sometimes it can be very hard to tell if a person has autism. There are a number of indicators that a child may be autistic including needing a familiar routine and being particularly upset when it is disturbed, preferring to play or spend time alone, rather than asking others to play, and avoiding eye contact. Autism can often go undiagnosed in girls and women as girls are usually better at repressing their behaviours as girls are typically socialised to try not to stand out.

Autism at school can be particularly difficult for children. 34% of children on the autistic spectrum say that the worse thing about schools is being picked on and often parents feel like their children are not being offered the best support for their learning needs. However, as autism spectrum disorders begin to work their way into public consciousness through the inclusion of characters on the autistic spectrum in shows such as Sesame Street, we will become better at providing support and reassurance. If a generation of children are raised with an awareness of how to treat those with autism, learning for everyone will undoubtedly improve.  

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