April has long been Autism Awareness Month, the first year it was celebrated was 1972. For the years since, the autism community has been working towards raising awareness of the condition. It also helps bring awareness to the individuals that live with it. This year, things are shifting in that community, we now need to focus on autism acceptance and autism inclusion.
Moving from awareness to inclusion is important to create an accessible world for the autism community. It isn’t as difficult as you may think! There are changes that can alter the experience of an individual with autism to make them feel more accepted and more included. We hope you take these tips and find ways to make them a part of your everyday life. to keep Autism Acceptance and Inclusion going all year long!
Actions to Take for Acceptance and Inclusion
- Focus on strengths instead of challenges! – It can be easy to focus on the various challenges that an individual with autism faces, but shifting that focus to their strengths, can make a huge impact.
- Expand your social circle to include neurodiverse individuals! – Having a group of friends that care for you makes a difference in anyone’s life and definitely in the life of someone with autism. You will likely find many people to be a part of your social circle if you are paying attention!
- Offer support through advocacy! – Advocate for your friends with autism to others that you know! Spreading the word about how to take these steps for acceptance and inclusion helps continue to grow the environment that supports people with autism!
- Use appropriate language for each individual! – Everyone’s preference is different. Make sure you are asking if they prefer identity-first language or person-first language. This small change can make a big difference in how someone feels!
- Diversify entertainment you read and watch! – Try adding books to your collection that feature characters with autism or watching movies that feature storylines around autism! Having this representation in the media you and your family are consuming can be very impactful in education and understanding of the autism community. They also provide examples on how to be more inclusive and create those environments and situations we are looking to make. Check out this article about the Disney Pixar short that features a girl with autism who is non-verbal.
Creating an Inclusive Community
- Move away from a one-size-fits-all environment! – These types of one-size-fits-all environments and cultures are everywhere, it could be in a workspace or a school, or even at home. No matter the environment you can control, taking the time to consider how it could be more inclusive can make a world of difference to someone who operates better in a particular space.
- Provide opportunities that include everyone! – Some of you may have power to do this on a large scale, and others on a small scale. There is always room for inclusion. Maybe you are teaching a room of students and can create an inclusive activity. Maybe you are hosting a small gathering and there is an opportunity to include neurodiverse individuals. Taking that chance can make a huge impact!
- Consider the autism community in decision making! – If you’re able, using your power to make decisions that consider the autism community can make a huge impact. About 1 in 54 children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism. This is a large population that those decisions will impact that are often overlooked. To achieve acceptance and inclusion, these decisions are necessary and important.
- Educate when you have the opportunity! – Take what you have learned and pass it on! You can also help by amplifying the voices of individuals with autism by helping them to educate others! Education is a great first step to acceptance and inclusion.
What We Do to Promote Autism Inclusion
No matter how you choose to practice inclusion, every step helps to enhance the experience of individuals with autism! We have prioritized the inclusion of every child at our facility!
Medical Support Services is proud to provide inclusive clinical environments to help all children, including children with autism! We offer world-class pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy no matter the child’s need! Lastly, we also recommend visiting our friends at We Rock the Spectrum – Milwaukee. It is an inclusive children’s gym, geared towards creating a space for children with autism to thrive and have fun!