April is Autism Acceptance Month

By respecting and appreciating the diversity within our LRCD communities, we can empower everyone to live their best life and promote equity and justice for all of our residents. We hope you enjoy these monthly blogs with resources and events that help you learn about and celebrate the beauty in our differences, while acknowledging our shared humanity.

​Autism Acceptance Month is recognized annually in April. What started as “Autism Awareness Month” in 1970 has evolved over time. The autistic community continues to advocate for more than awareness, striving for public acceptance and celebration to ensure all people can access the support they need in order to thrive.

Many of us have a narrow understanding of autism and autistic people. This Autism Acceptance Month, we invite you to explore the resources below to expand your knowledge, find resources that may be useful if you think you or someone you care about may be autistic, and identify ways you can become an ally to autistic people in your community.

Some helpful resources

​Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (autisticadvocacy.org)
 
ASAN seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. They believe that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities.
 
ASAN published a great online book written by and for autistic people to help explain many things about autism. If you are autistic, think you might be autistic, or if you want to better understand autistic people, this is a great resource for you.
 
Read the Book – Welcome to the Autistic Community (autismacceptance.com)
  
Embrace Autism
Embrace Autism | The ultimate autism resource (embrace-autism.com)
 
Dissatisfied with the lack of information available on autism in adults, a group of autistic people founded Embrace Autism in 2018. Their goal is to distribute research and experience-based information on autism. They write, “Quality autism information can help us make sense of our lives, it can help us discover who we are and the amazing potential we have, and it can help us acknowledge the beauty and splendor in ourselves and each other.”
 
 Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)
AANE Homepage - AANE
 
AANE helps autistic and similarly neurodivergent people build meaningful, connected lives. They provide individuals, families, and professionals with education, community and support in an inclusive atmosphere of validation and respect.