Nava Ramanan
Nava Ramanan's Spectrum Night Walk 2020 for raising Autism awareness
Fundraising for National Autistic Society
Story
I am lacing up my walking boots to take part in the National Autistic Society’s 15k Spectrum Night Walk in London on Saturday 4 April. I hope my challenge will get people talking about autism, and raise the awareness of autism.
I have a six year old son with autism and ADHD, who was diagnosed at only 2 1/2 years old. It has been hard work and full of constant worries but he continues to surprise us daily, and makes us realise his autism is not all bad and in fact makes him the completely unique person he is.
Autism is a lifelong condition and there are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK. Autistic people and their families have told the charity (NAS) the ‘Five Big Things’ that they want the public to know about autism. These are that autistic people may:
- feel (sometimes intense) anxiety about changes or unexpected events
- be (in some cases extremely) under or over sensitive to sound, smells, light, taste and touch. This is called sensory sensitivity.
- need extra time to process information, like questions or instructions
- face high levels of anxiety in social situations
- have difficulties communicating and interacting with others
The National Autistic Society
- The National Autistic Society is the UK's leading charity for autistic people. Founded in 1962, it provides information, support and pioneering services, and campaigns for a better world for people on the autism spectrum.
- To find out more about autism or the charity, visit www.autism.org.uk.
- Follow the National Autistic Society on Twitter (@Autism) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/NationalAutisticSociety).
What is autism?
- Autism is a lifelong disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
- More than 1 in 100 people are on the autism spectrum, including an estimated 700,000 people in the UK.
- Every person on the autism spectrum is different. It can present some serious challenges – but, with the right support and understanding, autistic people and their families can live full lives.
- Although everyone is different, people on the autism spectrum may:
- Be under or oversensitive to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours, which can make everyday life extremely difficult
- Find social situations and change a challenge, sometimes leading to extreme levels of anxiety
- Experience a ‘meltdown’ if overwhelmed by anxiety or sensory overload
- Benefit from extra time to process and respond to communication.
All donations get paid directly to Charity. For more information and how you can get involved in this year’s World Autism Awareness Week, visit www.autism.org.uk.