Dr Michael Craig features on France 24 news for World Autism Awareness Day
World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognised event that occurs each year on April the 2nd. Its aim is to raise awareness and understanding of the conditions on the autistic spectrum.
Dr Michael Craig, a consultant psychiatrist at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, the Maudsley and Nightingale Hospital, was recently welcomed on France 24 news to share expert insight into autism.
Dr Craig touched on some of the misconceptions surrounding the condition; including dispelling the idea that autism is a single condition that presents in the same way for everyone.
Individuals on the autistic spectrum can find social interaction and reciprocal communication challenging. They may also have a sensitivity to sound and/or light and may find changes in routine difficult. However, Dr Craig noted that autism can also be associated with numerous advantageous characteristics, particularly, in relation to how systems and processes operate. For such individuals, many opportunities for success exist in the computing and engineering sectors.
Dr Craig also touched on the positive and negative use of labels. Whilst acknowledging the fact that some individuals are resistant to a diagnostic label, Dr Craig explained that this can be very helpful, especially in work environments, where adjustments can be made so that an individual who is “neuro-diverse” can reach their full potential.
You can watch the interview in its entirety below.
#AutismSpectrumDisorder #Autism #MentalHealth #NeuroDiversity
