He is Five. But He Faces Being Shunned and Bullied, With a Sevenfold Risk of Being Held By Police an

Oct 29, 06:34 AM

Current Headlines: By FIONA MACLEOD

BULLIED by their classmates as children, shunned by neighbours as parents, and refused work as adults, the lives of thousands of Scots are being devastated by ignorance about autism.

New research reveals that people with the condition are seven times more likely to be caught up in the criminal-justice system - as suspects, rather than criminals - because of poor understanding of the way autism can cause unusual behaviour.

About one in 100 Scots is affected by autism - a total of around 50,000.

Today's study paints a damning picture of our nation's attitude to those most in need of support and uncovers the shocking maltreatment of those battling the disorder, which affects how people communicate and socialise.

Damaging myths still persist that people with autism are a danger to the public, while mothers of autistic children are forced into virtual hiding by constant public criticism of their parenting skills.

According to the survey, 59 per cent of Scots wrongly believe there is a cure for autism. One-third think it affects only children. Almost two-fifths wrongly believe most autistic people have special abilities such as the character played by Dustin Hoffman in the film Rain Man. And when confronted with typical autistic traits, only one in eight people would think that person had a disability, with the rest most likely to think they were drunk, on drugs or just "odd".

The National Autistic Society Scotland is today launching a new campaign - backed by The Scotsman - aimed at changing attitudes and raising money to help those affected, such as five-year-old Andrew Astley, of Aberdeenshire.

Think Differently - Act Positively is attempting to tackle the persisting misconceptions about the condition.

Carol Evans, national director of NAS Scotland, said: "This lack of knowledge devastates lives. One woman diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome described being forced to leave her local darts team, because rumours were spread that she was danger to the public.

"One mum of a child with autism described having to constantly explain to people what was wrong with her child, on planes, in shops, or even at the bus stop.

"The misinformed and judgmental attitudes of complete strangers made this woman a virtual recluse. This is unacceptable when one in every 100 people in Scotland has a form of autism."

Ms Evans said the new research had highlighted the need for greater understanding of autism. "We want to change perceptions of this complex and lifelong disability," she added.

"We know that without understanding the signs and characteristics of this condition, the public can mistake the behaviour of people with autism for being naughty, anti-social or 'weird', and presume the person with autism is dangerous or a threat.

"This campaign aims to dispel those myths and educate people about the reality, as the effect negative public attitudes have on parents is soul-destroying."

Ms Evans warned that many parents are forced to battle for appropriate educational support for their children, with many youngsters left in limbo for months while they are tormented daily by other pupils. She said: "Bullying is a problem. Often, they cannot fathom why other children cannot relate to them. One 16-year- old boy with Asperger's syndrome developed a phobia of going to school. As soon as he got there, he couldn't get out of the car and would have a panic attack.

"If his fellow pupils had had a better understanding of autism, this young man might have been able to access education - which is his fundamental right."

Statistics also show that only 13 per cent of autistic adults in Scotland have a full-time job.

Ms Evans said: "For some, lack of understanding from employers or employees can prevent them fulfilling their potential and making an active contribution to the economy.

"One man found it impossible to hold down a job due to bullying by workmates. His condition meant he wanted to complete his work as quickly as possible, without taking a tea break. This irritated the other workers, but without any training in autism, how would they know better?

"Unless there is increased awareness, people with autism will continue to be discriminated against in the workplace."

The number of people being diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders is soaring - with a 623 per cent rise in the number of such pupils in Scottish secondary schools in just six years.

However, little is known about the causes of this lifelong developmental disorder. Some medical professionals have speculated that the triple measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination is one potential factor but no definitive proof has been found. Other experts believe the increased incidence is linked directly to growing awareness.

However, teachers still receive little training on the condition and many people are only diagnosed as adults.

Dr Evelyn McGregor, a lecturer in child development at Edinburgh University who co-authored a study on autism in 2001, said: "Many more children are entering schools with very mild indications of autism. This can create certain difficulties because they are not obviously autistic and cannot read social situations.

"They are easily misunderstood and can easily misunderstand the behaviour of others. Their behaviour can be interpreted as rude when really they are just very open.

"Autism is not a simple thing to diagnose, and mild autism is quite complicated - people need special training."

The Condition

50,000 Scots are estimated to be on the autism spectrum

200,000 Family members and friends are affected by the disorder

50 per cent Of autistic pupils are bullied at school

59 per cent Of people don't realise there is no cure

38 per cent Wrongly believe people with autism have special abilities maths or art, as in the film Rain Man

Autism is a spectrum disorder meaning it can vary from very light symptoms, allowing people to lead a relatively normal life, to being a severely disabling condition.

Asberger syndrome is a high-function form of autism where those affected struggle with social interaction.

Symptoms vary but most sufferers find bright lights and noise distressing. Those with the condition tend to avoid making eye contact, and struggle to understand figurative and metaphorical language, making our everyday social interactions a daily battle.

The National Autistic Society Scotland, established in 1996, has 1,300 members and a network of nine branches across the country.

(c) 2007 Scotsman, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.