April is Autism Awareness Month.
This gives us the opportunity to spread awareness about the complexities of our disorder, the different ways the symptoms affect us across the spectrum, and spread ways the world can be a bit more Autism friendly.
Right now, autistic people are facing challenges that go beyond ‘awareness’. Whether it’s access to accommodations, the fight for proper support, or the ongoing harm of outdated narratives, our community needs real change.
Instead of debating these issues, let’s focus on what we can actually do to make things better.
Too often, autism awareness campaigns focus on misinformation, surface level support, and are created by non autistics. Let’s change that. This April, challenge yourself to take at least one action that supports the autistic community. Here are some examples below, pick one or more or add to the list!
🔎 Spread Awareness That Actually Helps
✅ Educate yourself on common myths about autism and correct misinformation when you see it (such as vaccines cause autism, autism is a result of bad parenting, only boys can have autism, autistics lack empathy, autism can be cured by diet changes, everyone is a little autistic, etc.).
✅ If you're a parent or professional, commit to listening to autistic voices, especially those of non-speaking and higher-support autistics.
✅ Share resources created by autistic people, not just medical organizations (ASAN Resource Library).
🏗️ Improve Accessibility for Autistic People
✅ If you're in a position of authority (teacher, manager, event planner, etc), implement sensory-friendly policies like quiet spaces and dimmable lighting. Partner with organizations like KultureCity to provide tools for autistics at your events.
✅ Ask local businesses to improve accessibility (open quiet hours with dimmed lighting and less noise/no music, offer AAC-friendly communication, educate employees to be aware of autism, adopt the hidden disabilities sunflower lanyard initiative, etc)
✅ Advocate for multiple communication options such as scheduling appointments over email, confirming appointments via text messaging, etc.
✅ Offer captions, image descriptions, and plain language in online spaces.
✅ If you're a business owner or employer, seek out autistic workers and services. Work to make the job process more autistic friendly by giving interview questions beforehand, offering communication alternatives, and being straight to the point.
🤝 Directly Support Autistic Individuals
✅ Help an autistic person with a daily task if they ask for support (e.g., scheduling an appointment, setting up an accommodation, getting to where they need to go).
✅ Offer help with executive functioning tasks by breaking down overwhelming tasks into smaller steps, body doubling, setting reminders, etc.
✅ Help them fill out forms or paperwork - Disabilitiy forms, job applications, and medical forms can be extremely overwhelming and confusing. Being patient and explaining things can help a lot.
✅ Be mindful of touch and personal space. Some autistic people dislike unexpected touch or need more space. Always ask before hugging, patting, or standing close.
🔴 High-support-needs recognition
Moderate and high-support-needs autistics have very different experiences than those with low-support-needs. The majority of autistics in this group are not online because they don't have the ability to be. When we discuss topics online, we cannot forget this group. It's incredibly important to keep these individuals in our conversations.
✅ Recognize that not all autistic individuals can advocate for themselves. Many non-speaking, intellectually disabled, or level 3 autistics are unable to share their experiences online, meaning their needs are often spoken over or ignored.
✅ Don't assume all autistics want the same things. While many self advocates focus on acceptance rather than a cure, many of those with severe autism experience extreme suffering and would welcome treatments that could lessen their challenges.
✅ Acknowledge that not all autistic people will gain independence. A lot of voices in the community online and a lot of services available push for gaining independence, which is great, but is not achievable for many. Some will never enter the workforce, never gain independence, and/or will never be able to live without caregivers. A common fear among those who fit this category, including myself, and their parents or caregivers is, what will happen to us when our parents pass?
✅ Advocate for better services. Many regions lack affordable, long-term support for individuals who need 24/7 care, as well as those with moderate support needs who need care from support workers multiple times a week. These services are usually understaffed and underfunded, resulting in poor care. Push for policies that provide housing, in-home support, and medical care.
✅ Challenge policies that restrict access to disability benefits - Many higher support needs autistics lose access to support services because of policies that reduce government spending in this category. Disability is crucial to those with moderate and high support needs because the services we often need are incredibly expensive.
💬 How will you take action?
Comment below what actions you will be taking this month and feel free to update as the month goes on.
