Demystifying autism in the Somali community through films and factsheets

Five informative short films and factsheets about autism have been released for the Somali community developed by University of Bristol researchers and the community organisation Autism Independence.

Every person with autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), will have a different experience and this can change as they get older, hence why it is referred to as a spectrum.

People with autism share some similar characteristics but they can also be very different to each other. While autism is present from birth, it may not be recognised or diagnosed until much later.

Autism often (though not always) manifests in additional challenges with socialising, communicating with others, learning and can change how someone processes sensory input such as smells, sounds and lights. People with autism can learn how to overcome any, or all of these challenges with the right support. The earlier this support can be given, the sooner an autistic person can find ways to best manage how they interact with the world.

Nura Aabe is a PhD student at the University of Bristol who founded Autism Independence, a community organisation that supports families from the Somali community and other minority ethnic backgrounds. She moved to Bristol from Somalia aged 10 and has a son with autism.

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Demystifying autism in the Somali community through films and factsheets (epigram.org.uk)