Today (April 2nd, 2024) is the 17th Annual World Autism Day. This is my 7th World Autism Day, knowing that I am Autistic.
I have many feelings about April, watching it come and go since I first learned I am Autistic a few months before my twenty-ninth birthday.
For many Autistic people, April can be a source of frustration and pain (because instead of promoting acceptance and understanding, traditional awareness campaigns often perpetuate harmful stereotypes, contributing to our continued stigmatization).
Years ago, on my first April, knowing my Autistic brain, I was naively excited about having a month to talk about Autism. Unfortunately, that excitement quickly turned to frustration and dread once the reality of this month became apparent.
The reality is that this month is only one month, during which organizations and people (who don't know enough about Autistic People to speak without doing harm to us) suddenly shift their focus to Autistics, forgetting we exist the other 11 months of the year.
From awareness to acceptance: Shifting the narrative and rethinking Autism Awareness Month: Empowering Autistic voices and experiences -
NeuroDivergentRebel.SubStack.com For many Autistic people, April can be a source of frustration and pain (because instead of promoting acceptance and understanding, traditional awareness campaigns often perpetuate harmful stereotypes, contributing to our continued stigmatization).
Years ago, on my first April, knowing my Autistic brain, I was naively excited about having a month to talk about Autism. Unfortunately, that excitement quickly turned to frustration and dread once the reality of this month became apparent.
The reality is that this month is only one month, during which organizations and people (who don't know enough about Autistic People to speak without doing harm to us) suddenly shift their focus to Autistics, forgetting we exist the other 11 months of the year.
Every April, we are inundated with support from unqualified and uneducated voices who suddenly become interested in Autistic People - many of whom will return to business as usual in May.
Because many of these passers-by are not Autistic themselves, they often share and amplify harmful messages that perpetuate Awareness, fear, and stigma- thinking they are being helpful without understanding why what they share is harmful.
This is one reason why many Autistic People are asking our allies to move beyond "being aware of Autism." Many of us feel as if Awareness isn't enough.
Being AWARE of something is not the same as taking action.
Autism Awareness is minimal in that it doesn't move further into taking steps as to what's needed to include, empower, and accept Autistic People.
It's time to rethink Autism Awareness Month.
Awareness can be an excellent first step in overcoming obstacles (like the obstacles that prevent equitable inclusion of Autistic and other NeuroDivergent people in society).
Awareness can be helpful because it can point us at problems, helping to gain sympathy for causes that may be underserved.
However, Autism and Autistic people ARE NOT a problem to be solved.
Autistic People are human beings, and "Autism Awareness" campaigns paint us as a problem that needs fixing (even though we don't need fixing).
Awareness (or BEWARE-ness campaigns, as I call them) don't help Autistic people. They help make money for companies in the medical industry that serve to profit off of the fear and stigmatization of Autistic people (the autism industrial complex).
I want more!
Most people are aware of Autism now and know Autistic people exist.
However, many people still fail to understand what it means to be Autistic (and don't see Autistic People as fully human).
Instead of focusing on fear and stigma, it is past time we shift our attention to acceptance, appreciation, and empowerment, viewing Autistic People as PEOPLE, not stereotypes and assumptions.
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