Friday 5 July 2019

Thomas Fondelli and Luc Van den Berge  

What about autism?

Over the last few years the number of young people being diagnosed with ASD has increased significantly. One of the many challenges they face is how to make sense of the diagnosis. What does ASD mean? Why have they been given this diagnosis? What does this diagnosis tell about them? And what do they want with it?

During the months to come, young people with the diagnosis of autism will continue to look for ways that invite us (with or without the diagnosis) to listen to the metaphors, images and comparisons by which they believe they can help others and themselves to understand a bit more of what autism means to them. In thus voicing their feelings or thoughts about autism, they challenge us to engage with them in a less alienating and more understanding way.