Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 on 5 at 7:00pm
Recent years have seen a huge increase in the numbers of people with an autism diagnosis, and research in the field is moving fast. Currently over 200,000 people in the UK are waiting for an assessment. NHS GP Dr Claire Taylor updates her knowledge so she can better support her patients and help answer the question so often asked: Are You Autistic?
Dr Claire meets scientists whose work is transforming understanding of autism, as well as autistic people whose lived experiences provide insight into the question. They explain what traits they noticed in themselves, and how understanding them has changed their lives.
Autistic scientist Dr Hannah Belcher’s work challenges the stereotype that autistic people are mostly boys and men obsessed with maths. Meanwhile, difficulties with social communication and interaction are key autistic traits. Dr Claire gains a greater understanding in a gallery filled with cartoon drawings. Autistic creatives Sean and Alex have different interpretations of the ‘funny’ cartoons from Dr Claire’s; she explores why.
Many autistic people mask their traits, and Claire finds out how exhausting this can be.
Autistic sociologist Dr Damian Milton’s work questions the belief that autistic people lack feelings or empathy. Dr Punit Shah explains why repetitive patterns of behaviour are significant. Meanwhile, at the Birkbeck Babylab, groundbreaking research has found that differences in sensory perception are seen far earlier than social differences. Now work is focused on how modifying environments can help.
Differences in sensory sensitivities are further highlighted when Dr Claire scores poorly on a cognitive test, leading her to realise that being autistic might have some advantages.
Many people still remain undiagnosed. Vanessa was treated for various eating disorders over a period of 30 years, before eventually being diagnosed with autism. Now she better understands how sensory issues impact her. As a result, she’s transformed her relationship with food, and explains to Claire how her life has changed for the better.