The first National Autism Awareness month was held in April of 1970. Since then, Autism has become the fastest growing developmental disability in the world with a diagnosis rate of 1 in 36 children according to latest data from CDC. The name was officially changed from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month in 2021, although both names continue to be used and both convey widely held goals.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. There is still a lot we don’t know about autism, including the cause or causes. According to the CDC, scientists believe that there are various factors that work together to affect the development of those with autism.
Those with autism may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. Like its name states, autism is a Spectrum Disorder. Therefore, those with autism have varying abilities. For example, some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal. Some people with ASD need considerable help in their daily lives and will need lifelong support and care. Others can work and live with little to no support. Some people with Autism may also have other conditions such as ADHD, seizures, or sleep disorders. Unfortunately, autism is often portrayed incorrectly in the media such as in movies or television. The media’s tendency to only highlight cases of autism in which people have quirky characteristics or some amazing hidden talent, like instantly calculating the exact day of the week someone was born based on the date, undermines the need to raise awareness for those who may have more advanced needs. That is why organizations such as National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA) focus on authentic awareness by pursuing recognition, policy, and solutions for these often-overlooked individuals on the severe side of the spectrum.
We still have a long way to go to ensure that those with autism have all the available resources and support they need. Society has come a long way since we first learned about autism. Children with autism now attend schools with their peers. Adults who were once institutionalized because of the lack of understanding of autism and resources available can now live in regular communities with support, or independently. The more we’re aware of what it’s like to live with autism, the more we can support, show compassion and acceptance for those individuals and their families. There is a saying that if you’ve met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. That is because like the rest of us each, everyone with autism is unique and deserves opportunities to develop to their full potential. Autism Acceptance Month is a great opportunity to learn more about how to better understand the autistic people in our lives, and to advocate for policies that provide more equity and support for autistic people and their families.
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