Special book collection to celebrate Autism
Islington Council’s Central Library has launched a special range of books on Autism to boost familiarity with the condition and support autistic people and their carers and friends.
Many of the 40 titles are written by people who have Autism and their families, sharing their own personal experiences and insights. Some have been penned by professionals in medicine and healthcare.
The books were selected by people living with the condition, as well as supporting organisations such as The National Autistic Society, the Whittington NHS, and the Islington Autism Partnership Board. A number were provided by The Bridge School, N7, for pupils who have autism and other complex needs.
The topics range a celebration of all things related to Autism to information and advice – for those people directly affected by the condition and others who would like to know more.
Islington Council’s executive member for economic development, Cllr Asima Shaikh, said: “I am delighted about our new book range for people with Autism, which provides a valuable written record of people’s stories and lived experiences, as well as useful medical and healthcare information.
“Part of making Islington fairer means helping to amplify the voices of people with Autism and supporting them to celebrate and share their stories and knowledge in our libraries.
“I hope this collection is a useful resource to those who need it and inspires others to become more familiar with a condition that touches the lives of almost 3 million people across the country.”
To find out more about autism please visit http://www.islington.gov.uk/autism or contact the National Autistic Society.
Notes to editors
Around 700,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum. Together with their families they make up around 2.8 million people whose lives are touched by autism every single day.
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person interacts with other people. They may not recognise and understand the feelings of others; they may have problems comprehending verbal instructions and non-verbal language, such as facial expressions, tone and body language. It also affects their ability to understand the world around them, and adapting to new or unfamiliar situations. People with autism often experience sensory problems, particularly with bright lights, loud noises, strong smells and taste and touch.
Autism is sometimes referred to as a spectrum condition (ASC). This means that, while people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition affects them in different ways. Some are able to live independently, some have difficulty with coping with everyday life and others require a lifetime of specialist support. A significant proportion of adults across the whole autistic spectrum experience social and economic exclusion.
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