It is widely accepted that people on the autistic spectrum - although vastly different - will share three main areas of difficulty in varying degrees.

The "Triad of Impairments"

Difficulty with social communication 
Individuals on the autism spectrum may have difficulties with both verbal and non-verbal language and take a very literal response to what people say. 

• not fully understanding the meaning of common gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice 
• unusual patterns of verbal communication 
• Echolalia (repetition of what has been said to a person) 
• making up words 
• difficulty with ‘I’ and ‘you’ 
• inappropriate tone of voice 
• a lack of facial expressions and gestures. 

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Difficulties with social interaction 
Individuals on the autistic spectrum may have great difficulty interpreting other people’s emotions and feelings and are often challenged when expressing their own. 

• not paying attention to others 
• being aloof, distant and uninterested 
• being alone and withdrawn 
• a lack of social skills 

• inappropriate social behaviour 
• a lack of understanding about friendship or strangers 
• difficulties in making and sustaining friendships 

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Difficulty with social imagination 
Social imagination is what allows us to understand and predict other people’s behavior, to make sense of abstract ideas, and to imagine situations outside our daily routines.   ​For the non-autistic child these skills evolve naturally through the normal childhood development process. It is widely agreed that individuals on the autistic spectrum do not undergo childhood development at the same harmonious rate that their non-autistic counterparts do. They may be extraordinarily developed in one particular area whilst considerably challenged in another.  ​​

• difficulty in understanding how others think, feel and react 
• problems with imagination 
• difficulty in the development of imaginative play 
• having a literal understanding of language, for example having difficulties with expressions like “it’s raining cats and dogs” or “pull your socks up” 
• problems with predicting events or actions

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"From the outset, Ron’s work in autism made sense of our observations of Shey. As unique as his insights were, his work sat in perfect harmony with our educational backgrounds. It provided the missing puzzle pieces and provided a way out of the labyrinth. Since having worked through the Davis Autism Approach, Shey has blossomed, and as his confidence over life has developed, ours for his future has too."
Guy & Suzanne , Christchurch, New Zealand