About Autism
Autism can look quite different from one person to another. Understanding autism and a person’s individual strengths and needs can help individuals and families make informed decisions about support.
What is autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, and experiences the world. It often includes focused interests or repetitive patterns of behaviour and activity. And, because autism is a spectrum, it looks very different from one child to the next. Some autistic people need relatively little support in daily life. Others experience significant disability and need substantial, ongoing help with communication, learning, safety, and everyday care.
Recognizing this full range is essential. Every autistic person has their own strengths, preferences, and support needs. Meaningful support means respecting who they are, without minimizing either their abilities or the very real challenges they face.
What families and educators may notice
Signs & characteristics of autism.
There is no single sign or characteristic that identifies someone as having autism. Some common ones are listed here.
These characteristics may be noticeable in early childhood or become clearer as social, communication, school, work, or everyday expectations change. Screening questionnaires can help identify people who may benefit from further evaluation, but they do not provide a diagnosis. When there are concerns, a qualified healthcare professional can help determine whether further assessment is appropriate.
Choosing support with confidence
Evidence-based support.
Families have many choices when looking for autism services and supports. Not every approach has the same level of scientific evidence behind it, and families should understand why an approach is recommended, what evidence supports it, and how they will know whether it is helping.
Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) is a highly evidence-based approach that can be used to teach meaningful skills and address challenges that affect participation, independence, and quality of life. At TriPoint Autism & Literacy Education Services (TALES), behaviour-analytic consultation is individualized, trauma-informed, and assent-based.
Importantly, being autistic does not mean that every difference needs to be changed. Support should focus on goals that are meaningful to the person and family and that improve communication, learning, participation, independence, safety, or quality of life, not simply on making someone appear less autistic.
How we can help.
Autism services at TALES are conducted by Joe Novak, EdD, BCBA-D, ATP, one of only 14 BCBA-Ds currently listed in British Columbia by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. His background in behaviour analysis, education, assistive technology, and communication disorders provides an interdisciplinary perspective on autism support.
TALES provides individualized autism consultation for families and schools to help understand individual needs, identify priorities, consider options, and develop practical, evidence-based strategies.
TALES also provides assistive technology evaluations, including evaluations focused on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), to identify technology that may support communication, learning, participation, and independence. TALES emphasizes evidence-based AAC approaches that support authentic communication by the individual.
