World Autism Day 2019

Today is World Autism Day, part of World Autism Week 2019.

• Autism is much more common than many people think. There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK – that's more than 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people.

• Autism doesn't just affect children. Autistic children grow up to be autistic adults.

• Autism is a hidden disability – you can't always tell if someone is autistic.

• While autism is incurable, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people's lives.

• 63% of children on the autism spectrum are not in the kind of school their parents believe would best support them.

• At least one in three autistic adults are experiencing severe mental health difficulties due to a lack of support.

• Only 16% of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time paid employment and only 32% are in some kind of paid work.

• Only 10% of autistic adults receive employment support but 53% say they want it.