April is Autism Acceptance Month

If you’re thinking that the word “acceptance” sounds a bit different from what you’ve previously seen for celebrating autistic people during the month of April, you would be correct. Up until 2021, this observance was deemed “Autism Awareness Month.”

But today, autistic people and allies alike are looking to change the narrative surrounding autism.

Awareness vs. Acceptance

In our blog last month, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by sharing this year’s impactful theme: “With Us, Not For Us.” For Autism Acceptance Month, we strive to set in motion a similar framework.

The idea behind “With Us, Not For Us” centers on the ways in which people with disabilities are often not at the forefront of their own decisions in life. People with Down syndrome or any other developmental disabilities are often spoken for, treated as inferior, and overpowered by the people in their lives who are supposed to be advocates for their well-being.

Autism Awareness, rather than Autism Acceptance, brought about similar issues to the people who should have been front and center in the entire movement: those who actually have autism. Fortunately, these concerns are starting to be recognized and addressed.

So what is the real difference between awareness and acceptance? The answer lies in the intentions behind each word.

Awareness, at its roots, is the knowledge that something exists. While it is an important first step on the road to acceptance, simple awareness can be passive. Even detached.

And in previous years, autism awareness often came in the form of public education programs that were not always helpful – or inclusive. Autistic people were stereotyped as problems to be solved, not people to be understood (the push to find a “cure” for autism is a good example of this).

Acceptance, on the other hand, gives way to a more collaborative and compassionate approach to showing support. It focuses on both celebrating the differences of people with autism and teaching about the struggles that these individuals face.

While the emphasis on acceptance and help that is actually helpful is very important, what’s even more vital is taking into account the experiences and thoughts of people with autism above anyone else.

Taking a Step Back as a Show of Support

As we’ve stated, a common theme in the lives of people with disabilities is the way that others without disabilities feel the need to do things for them. More often than not, people with autism or other developmental disabilities find themselves in the background of their own advocacy.

“Autism acceptance… is about acknowledging autistics as part of the community, changing the public image of autism and autistics, and shifting the dialogue about autism from a negative stance to a positive one, centering autistics in that dialogue.” – Penni Winter

This Autism Acceptance Month, we challenge you to show support for the people in your life with disabilities by taking a step back from any decision-making you might feel responsible for, and making time to really listen to their concerns.

Sometimes, simple education about autism is not enough. The perspectives of those who actually have autism can get lost in the shuffle of people trying to show support.

This is not to say that the intentions of autism advocates are always malicious. Far from it. Most people who seek to help those with autism truly do want to be a source of strength and encouragement. But it’s still important to check in with the people in your life who know the experiences of autism the most, instead of relying on outside perspectives alone.

Helpful Resources

Autism Acceptance Month is all about support and community, so it’s only fitting to share some helpful resources you can use throughout the month (and all year long!)

Here is an article that corroborates some of the points we made today, and offers up some perspectives from a few teachers who have autism.

This website that’s all about autism acceptance has compiled a list of resources on community, rights, allyship, and more.

PsychCentral has a value-packed resource hub all about autism that can answer a multitude of potential questions you might have.

Finally, for a more in-depth history of Autism Acceptance Month, this article gives a solid background on the AAMs of the past as well as the 2021 name change.

Final Thoughts

Autism Acceptance Month is an excellent opportunity to look inward and reevaluate the ways in which you show support to your loved ones who have autism. It’s so important to remember that everyone deserves to have agency and control over their own lives, and sometimes, certain types of “help” can do more harm than good.

The best advice we can give in terms of first steps is to ensure that you take the time to intentionally listen to the thoughts and experiences of the people in your life with autism. You might be surprised at what you find out, and people with autism and their allies alike can all benefit from learning how best to work with and support each other.

At Adam’s Camp, we strive to be the best advocates we can be for the people we care about the most. Autism Acceptance Month really brings to light our Adam’s Camp values and is an excellent opportunity to focus on positively shaping the ways in which we support our community.

The Adam’s Camp mission is to realize the potential and develop the strengths of children, youth, and adults with disabilities. We do this through unique adventure and therapy programs with the help of committed counselors, therapists, and volunteers who all work together to create a safe, fun, and supportive environment for people with disabilities.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions about how we support our community – and enjoy the rest of Autism Acceptance Month!