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Havas
  • 1/27/2025
Transcript
00:00To many autistic people, clothes are more than just clothes.
00:03I need my hoodie to go into school.
00:06They can offer sensory regulation, routine and comfort
00:09in a world that doesn't always feel comfortable.
00:12But right now, the rules and restrictions around clothing
00:15overlook the needs of autistic people,
00:17leaving them feeling excluded,
00:19especially at work, school, sports and events.
00:2470% of autistic people think their lives would improve
00:27if people understood why clothes matter.
00:31Vanish and Ambitious About Autism decided to take action.
00:35I really struggled trying to fit in and work out
00:39all of these kind of social rules I didn't really understand.
00:42Being autistic isn't easy.
00:44Living day to day is really hard.
00:46Autistic people want to fit into social norms
00:49so that you're accepted into a society that wasn't designed for you.
00:54The More Than Just Clothes project launched
00:56with different documentary stories of autistic girls
00:59who share in their own words what their treasured clothing can help them do.
01:03And we platformed more clothes stories
01:05with leading voices from the community.
01:07So changing how we look at clothes
01:09can dramatically impact the lives of autistic people.
01:11We got the nation talking.
01:15After seeing our content, 65% of people took action,
01:18all driving to the More Than Just Clothes pledge,
01:21our opportunity to make real change.
01:23The pledge invites everyone to recognise
01:25the importance of clothes for autistic people
01:28by remembering one word.
01:30Just.
01:32The Accompanying More Than Just Clothes book
01:34gives everyone the tools to make their school, workplace and sports club
01:38more clothing inclusive for autistic people.
01:42With downloadable posters and resources.
01:46We targeted the biggest employers in the country
01:48who all require uniform,
01:50as well as the country's leading sports clubs and educators
01:53and asked them to join us.
01:56It gives me that focus.
01:58I feel so unbelievably myself.
02:01I completely thrive.
02:03That can be translated off the pitch,
02:05wearing it under my normal clothes
02:07and having that is like a lifeline.
02:10Because clothes are more than just clothes.
02:13And the more people who know it,
02:16the better it is for everyone.
02:20Autism Live is a production of the Centre for Autism and Related Disorders