What is autism?

Let's get to know people on the spectrum and talk to our children about them.

All people are different. And that makes the world wonderful! Some differences are visible, easy to distinguish, such as height, eye color, gender… But there are also differences that are invisible at first glance, such as our emotions, our fears (e.g., the fear of spiders) or our abilities, like being good at soccer!
Each person sees the world differently. For example, when we look at a cloud in the sky, someone might see a dog forming, while others might say they see a rabbit!
Our brain is the computer of our body and controls the way we learn, feel, react, and communicate. In an autistic person, the brain affects the senses more and controls the way they react to situations and interact with those around them.
Thanks to the different way their brain functions, an autistic person develops skills and behaviors that a neurotypical person finds difficult, such as mathematical calculations. Also, skills that many have easily acquired, like making friends, are extremely difficult for an autistic person to achieve. The senses send messages to the brain about the environment and other people, but in an autistic person, this function gets confused, leading to a different perception of the world.
This is autism.
In this book, you will get to know Yannis along with your children. You will see how he behaves in the morning when he wakes up, how he follows routines, what he does at school, on the street, in the restaurant, how he expresses what he feels, how he behaves when he meets his grandparents, and you will follow him in various everyday situations.
During your walk with your children or in your social circle, you will meet children like Yannis. Remember your acquaintance with him when you see them. With respect for diversity and empathy, we can live in a society of acceptance and solidarity.