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It’s April, which means it’s also Autism Acceptance Month. As an Autistic advocate, organizer, educator, and creator, I think it’s a great opportunity to talk about why this month exists. Hopefully, this broadens your understanding of the landscape of autism—and the importance of remembering it beyond April.
Table of Contents:
From awareness to acceptance
Many folks may be more familiar with April as Autism Awareness Month, and Autism Speak’s much-hated “light it up blue” campaign. While this specific recognition did begin as a time of awareness, it has shifted its focus to acceptance.
A main reason for that shift is that “awareness” campaigns tend to focus on things we want to fight or eradicate. Breast cancer, brain tumors, stroke; each of these have their own awareness movements, coupled with efforts to fight them. These conditions, while complex and varied in impact, do kill people. Autism does not kill, although the world does kill us.
Instead, autism is a natural human variation, and Autistic advocates have worked for decades to push back against the eugenicist rhetoric that continues to advocate for our extermination. The current priorities of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. are proof that this fight is long from over.
Instead, this month is about reminding people not that autism exists, but that we need to make space for Autistic people in society. As ASAN says, “acceptance is an action.” Simply saying “I accept autism” is not enough when your classroom, office, grocery store, theater, or job site are inaccessible—or outright hostile—to Autistic individuals.
Ableism is built into the very scaffolding of our society, and it will not be overturned in one month or by one person. So this month, don’t just acknowledge that we exist. Think about how you can advocate for, support, uplift, and empower us. And resist the temptation to speak over us, especially those of us who don’t speak and/or use assistive communication devices. Let our voices be heard in every corner.
…and beyond
While the move to acceptance is helpful, any self-respecting autism advocacy group knows that acceptance is not the end goal. Nor is the goal inclusion. It is a fundamental shift to the structure of society so that Autistic ways of thinking, being, and knowing are honored and invited. It is a world where we are not seen as less than, where our differences are supported, encouraged, and celebrated.
Again, I must give a forewarning: do not let this turn into rhetoric of autism being a “superpower.” Autism is a neuropsychological variation, a social identity, a way of being, a disability, and many more things, but it is not a superpower. We have our strengths, but we also have our weaknesses; much like any allistic (non-Autistic) people do. We are not less than human, nor are we greater. We just are.
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Giving money for AAM
Personally, I think there are much more tangible ways to support Autistic wellbeing than giving money to a national nonprofit. Things that I could spend hours listing here, but that you can find by browsing my site and many other Autistic advocates and groups online. Accessible design in classrooms, relaxed performances, social narratives, and even just 1-on-1 support, to name a few.
However, I know some people like to donate, and that’s how they can show up. My first recommendation is to give that money directly to an Autistic person in your life, to support their rent, medical care, food, or self-care activities. If you do choose to donate to an organization, research them first. Consider the following questions, and if the answer is “yes” to any of them, probably don’t give them your money.
- Is their leadership entirely neurotypical/allistic?
- Do they paint autism as something to fight, end, prevent, or eradicate?
- Do they support research for a “cure” for autism?
- Do they promote debunked myths, such as Tylenol or vaccines causing autism?
- Does their work focus entirely on allistic family members of Autistic people, not Autistic individuals themselves?
- Are they selling naturopathic or OTC “remedies” for autism?
- Do they focus entirely on white and/or male Autistic people?
All these questions are important, but the last one can easily fly under the radar. Don’t let it. Racism and sexism in Autistic spaces and movements is a very real problem, and the historic focus on Autistic experiences has centered white, cis-het men. Black Autistic people are also especially at risk of violence and mistreatment, both from the state and their peers.
Autism doesn’t go away when April ends
As important as months like these are to promoting causes (and as much as I love Pride Month), too many people get interested in April (or June, or the relevant month) and then fall back into the status quo when the month ends. What our movement really needs is consistent, dedicated support.
So don’t use up all your resources this month. Maybe you don’t even provide much tangible support this month, instead spending time creating a plan for how you can support our cause long-term. Education, advocacy, myth-busting, political events, and organizing are all important elements of movement-building.
Now is the time to say “I support Autistic people,” and then to go out there and show that support. But that time will also be in two weeks, in two months, in two years, until collective liberation has been achieved. And we have a lot of work to do before then.
Do you have other thoughts about Autism Awareness Month, or additional tips for folks? I’d love to add them to the post! You can leave a comment down below or whisper them to the Autism Creature as you’re falling asleep. And if you liked this post, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.
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Ashton Rose 