What is Autism?
Think of autism a different way of procession information and making sense of the world. Autistic brains find some things more challenging, like relating to others, but they tend to excel in other ways, like noticing details and remembering information.
Autism ISN’T a disease like diabetes or asthma, and there is no cure for it. Many autistic people say they wouldn’t want to be cured. The way they see it, autism is like their gender or nationality—it’s part of who they are.
Best Autism Videos to Watch
Here is our curated list of the videos we recommend for explaining and understanding autism:
- What is Autism? by Agony Autie
- Ask an Autistic #23 – What is Autism? by Amythest Schaber
- What is Autism? Video for kids by James Sullivan
- What are People with Autism Like? Video for kids by James Sullivan
Explain Autism Comics
- Understand the Spectrum by Rebecca Burgess
- Hear Our Spectrum of Voices by Rebecca Burgess featuring quotes by autistic self-advocates
What Do Autistic People Think about Autism?
The best way to understand autism is to learn about it from the people who are on the autism spectrum. Here are some of our team’s best essays about being autistic:
- I AM Awesome by Lydia Wayman
- Why Autism Gives Me the Strength to Fly! by Megan Amodeo
- Happy Spectrumversary: My REAL Day to Celebrate by Becca Lory
- Never Let Your Circumstances Define Who You Are by Khali Raymond
- Different Isn’t Bad and It Isn’t Less by Haley Moss
- Now the Past Makes Sense After My Adult Autism Diagnosis by Robert Watkins
- Autism: A Whole Person Perspective by Lydia Wayman
- When Did You First Find Out? by James Sullivan
Find more inspirational personal essays by our autistic writers on our blog and in Zoom Autism Magazine.
How to Explain Autism to Kids
- Download and watch all of our Bluebee TeeVee Autism Information Station Videos
- Use this Autism Fact Sheet for Kids
Children’s stories with characters on the autism spectrum are a great way to talk about autism:
- Mighty League 1 – autistic hero story based on a true story about bullying and friendship
- Mighty League 2 – autistic starship captain based on a true story about self-acceptance, peer acceptance and inclusion.
- Lucy’s Amazing Friend – a story about autism and friendship
- The Superhero Brain and The Superhero Heart – Children’s hero stories on autism as a difference.
Find more books that will help you understand the autism experience or explain autism in simple terms.
Go back to our Find Autism Resources page
*Autism definition written by Lydia Wayman
