Today, on 2 April 2023, we celebrate the sixteenth annual World Autism Awareness Day.
Hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world come will together to light up in blue, in recognition of people with autism and those who support them. Autism-friendly events and educational activities will also take place worldwide today; as well as all week in the UK, and all month in the US.
The UK is celebrating National Autism Week, between 27th March and 2nd April. The US is celebrating Autism Acceptance Month, formerly known as Autism Awareness Month, all of April to increase the “understanding and acceptance of people with autism and inspire a kinder, more inclusive world”.
AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH
April has widely been known as ‘Autism Awareness Month’ in the US, as a way to empower autistic individuals and their families. However, the Autism Society of America, formally shifted references of ‘Autism Awareness Month’ to ‘Autism Acceptance Month’ back in 2021, calling on the media to reflect this in their ongoing coverage.
“While we will always work to spread awareness, words matter as we strive for autistic individuals to live fully in all areas of life,” stated Christopher Banks, President and CEO of the Autism Society of America. “As many individuals and families affected by autism know, acceptance is often one of the biggest barriers to finding and developing a strong support system.”
In fact, autism community advocates in the US have a long-standing history of using the term “acceptance” as a means of more fully integrating 1 in every 54 Americans living with autism into their social fabric. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has been framing April as Autism Acceptance Month since 2011. Other groups that have also been using ‘acceptance’ through the month of April include the Administration for Community Living, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Autistic Women and Non-Binary Network, Easter Seals, First Place AZ, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and The Arc.
The Autism Society of America also led a significant effort for the federal government to officially designate April as ‘Autism Acceptance Month’. This coincided with their campaign to #CelebrateDifferences, which encourages individuals with autism and their families to live full, quality lives through connection and acceptance.
AUTISM AT WORK
Employers can also help to make the world a more autism-friendly place. Making small adjustments can make a big difference to autistic employees, according to the National Autistic Society, in the UK. However, a recent survey carried out by the Institute of Leadership & Management, Infinite Autism, Autistic Nottingham and Tourettes Action, revealed that there’s a significant lack of understanding and awareness of neurodivergents in the workplace. Additionally, half of UK’s employers admitted that they would not employ someone who had one or more neurodivergent condition, as reported.
The National Autistic Society, however, has produced a guide to explain the benefits of employing an autistic person. It also offers tips for recruitment and interviewing, as well as advice for managing an autistic employee. Click here for more information and resources.
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