Research into Autistic hate crime to be funded by Lotto

By Helen Drew
The Politics Show, BBC South East

Robyn sees a psychiatrist after the harassment made her depressed

Hate crime towards people with autism is the subject of a Lottery-funded research programme.

A project run by the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent aims to carry out research into the extent and impact of hate crimes towards such people.

Dr Julie Beadle-Brown will be leading the research, which will be carried out in Medway.

She told the Politics Show South East that the public sees people with autism stereotypically.

"People tend to think of Rainman but only a small number of people with autism can count matchsticks on the floor. People know the term but not what it means".

Bullying into adulthood

Robyn Steward likes to play one of her many guitars and write songs to express herself.

She has autism and was bullied from an early age.

"When I was at school I was bullied and those people carried on bullying me into adulthood. They used to call me a retard, a spastic and still people shout 'are you disabled'?

When she's asked how that makes her feel she says she feels confused.

"The harassment made me incredibly depressed, I see a psychiatrist, but the memories are there forever," says Robyn.

Victimisation

Autism affects the way that a person communicates with others.

It affects people of all intellectual abilities and is more common in boys than girls.

Allan would like to work part time and get back into the community

People with autism often have difficulty with language and their motor and co-ordination skills may be affected.

Allan Finn lives in Gillingham and like Robyn, he experiences victimisation because of his autism.

"I hate it, I don't like it but now it goes over my head, I don't lash out. When people call me names I don't go down to someone's level.

"It does get to me, but not enough to make me self-harm or go into one".

The lack of understanding about autism extends to the workplace and people with the condition can find it hard to get a job.

According to the National Autistic Society it's thought that 1 in 100 of all people is on the autistic spectrum and of those, 85% don't have full time jobs, but most would like to work.

Allan is not working at the moment but would like to. Part-time, for a few hours a week, he says.

"I'd like to get out in the community and meet other friends".

Through its 'Don't Write Me Off' Campaign the National Autistic Society is urging the government to do more to help.

Understanding of autism

Matt Downie is the NAS's Campaigns Manager.

"We're trying to encourage individuals to speak to MPs in a variety of ways, for example last Christmas we encouraged people to send cards.

"When we launched the campaign, parliamentarians were falling over themselves to be involved but we always want more."

Robyn leads training sessions to increase understanding of autism, including going into schools in the south east.

She thinks disability awareness needs to be part of a child's education from the word go and vocational training should be available too.

For both Allan and Robyn, a better understanding can not come quickly enough.

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