What started as Autism Awareness Month in 1970 was changed in 2011 to Autism Acceptance Month. Awareness Month was not universally liked by the Autistic community. If you follow the #ActuallyAutistic hashtag on social media, or any of the prominent advocates, you will most likely encounter posts throughout the month of April on this subject.
Part of the problem is that awareness has not proven effective at improving the lives of Autistic people. In fact, these awareness drives often lead to the widespread dissemination of misinformation and outdated perspectives, causing further difficulties for people in the community. With no one ensuring the accuracy of the content that gets shared we frequently see harmful myths getting more traction than the truth, and non-autistic voices speaking over Autistic ones.
The most radical act you can perform as an ally to Autistic people is to accept them exactly as they are, and beyond that to celebrate them and their neurotype. Most Autistic people are not looking to be “fixed.” In fact, there is an Autism Pride day (June 18) so that Autists can have a day to celebrate their identities independent of the infantilizing memes and online harassment that sadly come their way during April.
Envision a different world, one in which all neurotypes are celebrated for the rich diversity they contribute. If we could create this level of inclusion and acceptance, so many of the problems that Autistic people and their families face would be removed. The world is ready for more practical advice, actual steps that can be taken to improve the lives of Autistic people.