Irish people show strong positive support for autistic people in schools, employment and society generally but concede their level of knowledge of the condition is inadequate, according to new research. Attitudes are most positive, and awareness highest, among younger people, the survey commissioned by autism advocacy group AsIAm indicates. The research results, based on a survey of 1,000 adults, were published on Tuesday morning at an event to mark World Autism Day. “The critical finding is the gap between public support for inclusion and reality,” according to Adam Harris of AsIAm. “Despite positive public sentiment, over 85 per cent of autistic people are under or unemployed, autistic people are up to nine times more likely to die by suicide.

Source: The Irish Times April 02, 2019 03:00 UTC