Wider issue: We need to be more aware of autism

IF a new colleague seems unfriendly, sticks rigidly to a routine and doesn’t get your sarcastic jokes, don’t immediately dismiss them as weird. They may be autistic.

Around one in every 100 people is on the autistic spectrum and has difficulties in social situations, but loves order and routine, and yet the condition is still poorly understood.

World Autism Awareness Day (April 2) hopes to improve the public and organisations’ understanding of autism, and highlight the fact that it’s not just a childhood problem.