Welcome to The Spectrum

The Spectrum is free information resource specially designed for autistic individuals, families and the wider community, providing a guide on the autism journey.

We aim to be a trusted informational resources, here to answer your questions with evidence informed answers in clear and non-technical or confusing ways.

We celebrate neurodiversity, embrace the full diversity of neurodivergence and everything that comes with it.

We are excited about people who think differently and are curious about exploring and understanding how different ways of thinking can shape us, our communities and our world.

We know that the opportunities for people, including neurodivergents, are endless.

We welcome your feedback and comments, please contact us.

The Spectrum is a website that is informed and maintained by Autism SA, Australia’s oldest autism organisation, and South Australia autism peak body. 

About Autism SA

Families of autistic children established Autism SA in 1964. It was the first organisation of its kind in Australia. Since its formation, Autism SA has been single-minded in its focus upon supporting the Autism community.

Today the organisation has a long and rich history of being a recognised leader for the provision of specialised consulting and services to people on the autism spectrum, their families and the broader community.

Autism SA has over 13,000 registered individuals on the autism spectrum. Autism SA’s workforce of currently over 260 staff provide a range of quality services and supports, that are innovative and follow evidence-based practice, to individuals across the lifespan, their families and professionals in a range of locations including clinic, in-home, and schools.

A strong legacy of bringing first to the community, both in South Australia and across the nation

  • Staging the first national conference on autism in 1967
  • Established the first national federation of service providers specialising in autism, 1969
  • Publication of the first autism journal in 1979
  • Operation of the first autism specific school in SA
  • First recognition awards program in 2007 to celebrate achievements within the autism community, late becoming a national program
  • Hosting of the Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC) in 2013
  • Research and development of the iModeling app
  • 2015 creation and delivery of the Autism Friendly Charter, which builds inclusive businesses and organisation across the nation

Autism SA is accredited and registered as a provider through:

  • National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
  • The Government of South Australia Disability Services Provider Panel
  • The Australian Advisory Board on Autism

Autism SA is also a proud partner of the AUSTRALIAN Autism Alliance

Our Vision is for every autistic person to live the life they choose in an inclusive society.

Special thanks go out to:

  • The Autistic and autism community who provided input and feedback at the various stages of this project
  • Funding by the NDIS through the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building – National Readiness Grants.
  • Autism SA Staff and project teams who worked tirelessly to research, scaffold and review content over the development period
  • Fuller, our brand communications agency who created the brand, website and supported the carefully crafted content.

Video

Autism & Me

Members of the autism community and their families share lived experience on their autism journeys.

Video Transcription

Autism Community

One of the main things I like to explain is that people with autism have varied abilities and character traits, there’s not one single experience of autism.

— Zoran Bekric

Autism Community

I have Asperger’s syndrome and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And - given the right circumstances - being different is a superpower.

— Greta Thunberg

Autism Community

I would play with numbers in a way that other kids would play with their friends.

— Daniel Tammet

Autism Community

People on the spectrum experience the neurotypical world as relentlessly unpredictable and chaotic, perpetually turned up too loud, and full of people who have little respect for personal space.

— Steve Silberman

Autism Community

Everyone has a mountain to climb and autism has not been my mountain, it has been my opportunity for victory.

— Rachel Barcellona

Autism Community

Although people with autism look like other people physically, we are in fact very different in many ways. We are more like travellers from the distant, distant past. And if, by being here, we could help the people of the world remember what truly matters for the Earth, that would give us a quiet pleasure.

— Naoki Higashida

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