Autism Acceptance Month 2023
(Image Description: A rainbow-colored, striped heart is shown with the bolded words “Autism Acceptance.”)
Autism Acceptance Month
Happy Autism Acceptance Month!
Every April, individuals from around the world celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. Formerly known as Autism Awareness Month, many individuals and activists have replaced the word “Awareness” with “Acceptance” in order to convey how people should not only be aware of autism, but fully accept and actively include people with autism in their lives. In this blog, we will be going into detail about the history of Autism Acceptance Month and various ways you can support its mission.
Background
On November 1, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. This establishment represented one of the first major worldwide efforts to raise awareness for and educate others about autism. Since then, the UN continues to promote and celebrate this annual day, encouraging member states from around the world to include people with autism in their societies.
For context about autism, it is a developmental disability that impacts the way people understand and experience the world around them. This can come in a multitude of forms, including differences in “processing senses, thinking, physically moving, communicating, socializing, and going about daily living” (USA Today). Per the CDC, about one in 36 children are diagnosed with autism, being more common in males than females. However, autism transcends conventional boundaries and can be found in all walks of life. In fact, there are many famous celebrities, scientists, and other individuals who have autism, including but not limited to: Woody Allen, Tim Burton, Temple Grandin, Albert Einstein, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This goes to show how autistic individuals have significantly contributed to society in all forms, from groundbreaking scientific discoveries to the entertainment industry.
According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Autism Acceptance Month was founded by and for autistic people to respect the rights and lives of individuals with autism from around the world. Additionally, the month centers “the perspective and needs of autistic people with intellectual disabilities, nonspeaking autistic people, and autistic people with the highest support needs” (ASAN). The intentional wording choice of “Acceptance” rather than “Awareness” has served to bolster advocacy efforts and promote helpful resources instead of stigmatizing autism as something scary.
The main symbol corresponding to Autism Acceptance Month is a rainbow-colored infinity sign. This symbol was chosen to represent inclusion and a wide variety of lived experiences.
(Image Description: The rainbow-colored infinity sign is shown, a universal symbol for Autism Acceptance Month.)
How You Can Contribute to Autism Acceptance Month
Language matters. One key thing to be aware of is whether to use person or identity first language when talking about autism. Some advocates may prefer identity first (“autistic person”) to honor their identity while others prefer person first (“person with autism”) to avoid stigmatization. In the end, you should respect one’s personal preference in how they address their autism or simply ask them.
Avoid any stereotypes or myths about autism. In today’s age, people may resort to unfounded beliefs or notions about autism, such as that autistic people don’t have empathy or should be divided into various categories. By perpetuating these judgments, you are further stigmatizing autism rather than truly understanding it. Above all, people with autism deserve equal respect and support, and harmful stereotypes can hinder these rights.
Listen to and elevate autistic voices. From movies to podcasts to novels, there are countless unique, lived stories of autism that the YLC encourages you to check out! Additionally, you can recommend these stories to your family and friends or even share on your social networks to draw attention to important topics pertaining to autism.
Support organizations and businesses that are run by or center people with autism. By contributing to these diverse groups, you can amplify autistic voices while also supporting the wellbeing of yourself and others.
We hope that this blog taught you more about the importance of recognizing and honoring Autism Acceptance Month. By educating yourself and supporting others with autism, we can all work together to create a fully accessible and equitable society.
In friendship,
Nathan Moldavsky
YLC Member, Wisconsin
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