Martin Adams/Unsplash Thinking about autism has evolved. Just three decades ago, autism was a relatively rare and clearly defined condition, diagnosed in people with limited verbal language and highly repetitive behaviour. Today, autism is diagnosed along a spectrum of a wide range of abilities, from people who may require 24-hour care to those able to live independently. Around 290,900 Australians are diagnosed with autism, a 42% increase from an estimated 205,200 in 2018. For many people and