You may have a brother or sister who is autistic, or know somebody at your school with autism. When you become a friend to a person with autism, you both learn a lot from each other. There are some things that you can do to help your friend and make home or school easier for them.
Accept that there are some differences between you and your friend. They see the world a little bit differently from the way that you do, and might have trouble with some things that you do every day.
You can keep your friend safe from things that bother them. If they don't like loud noises, being touched, or other things that you may come across every day at school or home, you can help them to feel happier by thinking about what sort of things they find difficult to cope with.
Sometimes your friend might find it helpful if you talk in small sentences with simple words. You can even point to the things you're talking about to help them understand, or use pictures or write down what you want to say.
Join your friend in activities that they are interested in, so you can have fun together. It might take them a little bit longer to do things, so give them time and be patient. Show them how to play your favourite games so that they can join in too!
Don't be worried about asking your parents or teachers questions about autism. When you know if there are things you can do to help your friend, tell other people so that they can do the same.
