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How to write about Autism and Intellectual Disability?

Can you have autism and intellectual disability?

In the past, it was thought that 50-60% of autistic children had intellectual disability or developmental delays. But it’s now thought to be 20-30%, with another 20-25% having borderline intellectual disability with an IQ of 71-85.

How do you write an intellectual disability character?

Writers looking to diversify their characters will find these rules useful.

  1. Choose different disabilities, not old standards. …
  2. Use your research well. …
  3. Explore what could be positive about your character’s disability. …
  4. Don’t give a character a disability simply because it’s convenient for the plot.

How does autism affect your intellectual development?

That is, emerging social-communication deficits early in development might deprive the developing brain from receiving important environmental inputs, with downstream effects on global cognitive development. The result is lower IQ in those individuals with the most severe ASD symptoms.

How do you write a character with a learning disability?

9 Tips for Writing About Characters With Disabilities

  1. Disability (generally) shouldn’t be the center of the character or plot. …
  2. Don’t shy away from discussing your character’s disability. …
  3. Disabilities can be visible or invisible. …
  4. Disabilities are not tragic.

How do you write about disabilities?

Five Tips for Writing About People with Disabilities

  1. Use person first language. Emphasize the person rather than their disability. …
  2. Avoid unnecessary attention. …
  3. Be neutral. …
  4. Use the words “deaf” and “blind” in conjunction with modified descriptions. …
  5. Accuracy.


What are the three main difficulties of students with autism?

School activities that may be particularly challenging for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), previously referred to as Asperger’s Disorder, include social interactions, noisy or disordered environments, intense sensory stimulation, and changes in expected routines.

Is autism a disability or learning difficulty?

Like a learning disability, autism is a lifelong condition. Autism is sometimes referred to as a spectrum, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is not a learning disability, but around half of autistic people may also have a learning disability.

Is autism classified as a disability?

Autism is a neurological developmental disability with an estimated prevalence of one to two percent of the American and worldwide population. The diversity of the disability means that each person’s individual experience of autism and needs for supports and services can vary widely.

What are a list of disabilities?

Common Disabilities

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Learning Disabilities.
  • Mobility Disabilities.
  • Medical Disabilities.
  • Psychiatric Disabilities.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Visual Impairments.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

How do you write a character with Down syndrome?

People with Down syndrome have a voice!



Writing a Main Character with Down Syndrome

  1. Create a rich and complex backstory (just like you would for any character)
  2. Focus on them as a person, not their condition.
  3. Give them at least one person in their life that sees them (and treats them) as a person, not a condition.

Do you mean by disability?

What is disability? A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).

Can I write a character with a disability?

While it’s bad to write only about disability, not writing about disability and pretending it’s not there is just as harmful. Writers may write their disabled characters the same way as non-disabled characters.



How do you write a character with Down syndrome?

People with Down syndrome have a voice!



Writing a Main Character with Down Syndrome

  1. Create a rich and complex backstory (just like you would for any character)
  2. Focus on them as a person, not their condition.
  3. Give them at least one person in their life that sees them (and treats them) as a person, not a condition.

What are a list of disabilities?

Common Disabilities

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Learning Disabilities.
  • Mobility Disabilities.
  • Medical Disabilities.
  • Psychiatric Disabilities.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Visual Impairments.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

What type of disability is autism?

Autism is a neurological developmental disability with an estimated prevalence of one to two percent of the American and worldwide population. The diversity of the disability means that each person’s individual experience of autism and needs for supports and services can vary widely.

Is autism a learning disability?

Autism is sometimes referred to as a spectrum, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is not a learning disability, but around half of autistic people may also have a learning disability.