It's more than you think

Autism in itself is not a negative, it is people’s lack of understanding and a lack of support that makes its impact so potentially damaging.

Meet Michael – an animal-loving Futures learner at Autism Unlimited, with a diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

Robert is a facilities administrator who has worked at Autism Unlimited for the past 8 and a half years. He was diagnosed with autism as a teenager.

Dela is an area manager at Autism Unlimited, overseeing support to a number of individuals in the autistic community.

Autism is a slightly different way of the brain functioning. I don’t think it means that you’re really any different to anyone else, and that you have different abilities to anyone else.

Kai is a dedicated army cadet and sixth form student at Portfield School, sharing his thoughts on his autism.

Introducing Tyler - a sixth form student at Portfield School who shares his experiences with autism.

Stewart is one of the assistant headteachers at Portfield School, with 20 years of teaching experience across a range of different schools.

Diagnosed three years ago at the age of 53, Patrick now works as a specialist mentor for an autism charity in addition to mentoring undergraduate students in Portsmouth University and working towards completing his MA in Philosophy at the Open University.

Luke is a governor at Portfield School, a carer to his mum, and works at a National Trust café.

Fenton is a 16 year old student at Portfield School, with an autism diagnosis and a talent for the performing arts.

Pepper, Cayden, and Max are students at Portfield School. Here, they share an insight into their autism, hobbies, and experiences.

Oliver is a 15 year old student at Portfield School with an autism diagnosis, dyspraxia and hypermobility.

Nevaeh is a talented 12-year-old singer, and newly appointed child ambassador for Autism Unlimited, who produced a magical performance at the launch of our Chris Page Centre earlier this year.

Deborah is an artist-in-residence at Portfield School, inspiring students to explore their creative side. While officially diagnosed at 41, she knew she was autistic a long time before that, with the diagnosis creating just as many questions as it answered.

Maddie has been a student at Portfield School for the past 5 years. Alongside her autism, she has Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), which makes daily tasks like brushing your hair, making your food and just taking care of yourself quite hard, because in her eyes, that is a demand.

Art allows a lot of people to express themselves in their own way, nurturing creativity, innovation and dialogue. It is commonly used as a therapeutic medium for some autistic people.

Sarah has been an ISL at Portfield School for the past 15 years, working closely with both the younger children and the sixth formers.