What is autism video transcript

Video transcript for the what is autism - amazing things can happen video.

[Title card] Amazing things happen

A cartoon image of 4 figures show on the screen. One with black hair, one with brown hair and glasses, another with blonde hair and glasses and the final figure is of someone with red hair.

Voice over: "We are all different and that's wonderful. Some differences are easy to see in height, hair style, gender and so on. Other differences can't be seen, like our favourite foods, fear or special skill.

Interestingly the way we see the world is also different, for instance, what do you see in this drawing? Most people see a duck but some of you might have seen a rabbit, whichever you saw is correct. This is just a trick going to show you that all brains work differently.

The brain is your body's computer, it works differently for all of us, and controls how you learn, that's why we are all good at different things. How you feel, which is why we all feel different emotions and how you communicate. Sometimes the brain is connected in such a way it affects senses and how we perceive and read situations and interact. This is known as autism.

Many people have autism, so it's likely you already know someone who is autistic and for this reason it is useful to know a little bit about autism. The special wiring inside an autistic brain can sometimes make the person good at tasks which we may find difficult such as mathematics, drawing or music. It can also do the opposite and activities we find too easy are incredibly difficult to them, such as making friends.

The senses are constantly sending information to your brain about your surroundings and other people. However when a person's brain and its senses don't communicate well, the brain can become overwhelmed and confused affecting how they see the world.

Picture yourself walking down the street."

Image shows you walking down the street, passing a car coming towards you, a dog barking and jumping chasing a butterfly, a woman holding a red balloon and a man washing his car with birds chirping.

Voice over: "This is how an autistic brain may experience the same world."

Image reverses and provides a blurred vision around the camera. Bright lights from the cars are shining into the camera, heavier breath is appearing over the voiceover.

Voice over: "Scary isn't it? Sadly in many cases the person cannot say out loud how they feel. So even though there's chaos going on in their head, they seem okay on the outside unable to ask for help.

We all develop behaviours to help us feel calm in uncomfortable situations, we may look away, hug ourselves, chew our fingernails, bite on our lips and so on. Equally autistic people develop behaviours that help them cope with these intense moments. These actions may seem unusual but they're just their way to feel calm. When they happen, it means they're having a hard time, the kind thing to do is not to give them an even harder time by getting cross, or ignoring them or mocking them.

People with autism need friends who are willing to take the time. With good communication and plenty of patience everyone would be better off.

People with autism are not ill or broken, they simply have a unique view of the world. And with a little support from their friends, they might just be able to share that view with us. Autism can make amazing things happen."

Closing card showing credits of the video creators.