Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month - Something To Think About [April, 2020]

A quick post about Autism Awareness month is something to think about. Parents need to be aware that Light it up Blue was created by Autism Speaks, an organization many Autistic people have issues with. Therefore, a lot of Autistic people do not support Light it up Blue for Autism Awareness month. This is also why on social media you'll see Light it up Gold, Light it up Red, and a range of other "Light it up" colors. These are all alternatives to Light it up Blue created by actual Autistic people. I talked a bit briefly about the history of Autism speaks and its mission or visions for the next ten years that they hope to achieve. A second issue about Autism awareness month, for many Autistic people, is exactly how and what is positive awareness of Autism from our perspective.  It's a sad thing that many actual Autistic people want to run and hide during Autism Awareness month. Or feel saddened, frustrated, or even angry.  Why this reaction from us? Because all too often Autism Awareness means awareness of negative aspects of Autism. Awareness of how challenging Autistic people are to raise. Awareness of the perspective of NT people who have us in their lives. All too often for us, the ideas promoted about Autistic people in Autism Awareness month do not feel like ideas of positive acceptance of Autism. If you're going to support Autism Awareness month, please think about what we as Autistic people might want the world to know about us.  Please promote our strengths, promote all that is positive with our difference, and why we add value to society. Be aware that Autism Awareness month has a historic background of creating further public awareness of how difficult life is for those who raise or support us. Please be aware that Autism acceptance month can be emotionally conflicting for Autistic people. You see, you can be aware of something and not accept or embrace it. Awareness means you know something exists but you can still choose to ignore it, remain ignorant regarding it, outright reject it, and have a negative attitude towards it. Acceptance, however, is about embracing it, it is about understanding, inclusion, empowerment, and non-discriminatory attitudes being upheld.

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