Welcome to Mental Health Awareness quarter. April is Autism Awareness Month, so I’ll be focusing the posts this month on Autism not only to raise awareness about what Autism is, but also what we can do to accept those who have this disorder.
Recently, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has been referring to April as Autism Acceptance Month in an effort to gain acceptance of those who have Autism. Acceptance is one of the biggest barriers to finding and building support systems for autistic individuals. So, what can we do to accept people with autism? It starts with understanding the disorder and then accepting those who have it.
Understanding Autism
What is Autism? Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with others. It is also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Challenges with this disorder vary greatly and no two individuals who have it are the same and there is no cure for ASD. People who have autism come to accept who they are and the people who support them accept them for who they are. According to an article about Accepting your Autism on WikiHow.com, learning about the disorder can lead to awareness and acceptance. Some of the traits of this disorder are;
- Having deeply passionate interests which can develop into expertise in a certain area. This can lead to successful careers and hobbies.
- Helpfulness – Autistic people have a high sense of social responsibility and like to help others and solve problems.
- Precision – Autistic People tend to focus on the small parts and not the big picture. This can make them very detail oriented.
Being aware of autism is a good starting point. Acceptance is an action taken on our awareness. Here’s what we can do to start accepting not only autistic people, but others who are different from us.
Accepting Autism
Acceptance Acceptance is the act of understanding and including something or someone. How can we practice acceptance?
The first step to acceptance is understanding what this disorder is and accepting that people suffer from it. Ask questions about the disorder to learn more about what it is. Understanding what it is will help us not be afraid and more accepting. Tell a friend and share your understanding with them. Reach out and include those with autism and those who are different from you. Show your support by recognizing Autism Acceptance Month. And, make a difference, be a role model for others to be aware of what autism is and accept those who have the disorder.
How are you going to accept autism?
If you read this post, you now have educated yourself about what autism is. You understand that people with autism may be different from you, but if you are able to take time to understand them, you can also work towards accepting them and others who are different from you. Here are three tips to accept people who may be different from you.
- Nix judgement – see people for who they are not what they are
- Acknowledge always – acknowledge other people by saying hello and making eye contact
- Always give the benefit of the doubt – find the good in other people
What are you going to do to accept autism? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
The Hard Way celebrates it’s 6th birthday this week
My first book, The Hard Way, was published on April 12th six years ago. To celebrate this milestone, I am giving away copies of the ebook through Amazon.com on April 11-13, 2023. Be sure to pick up a copy so you can start reading the series. Book three, The Street’s Way will be coming your way in November. So, stay tuned for more news.
If you can’t wait for the sale and are looking to get your copy now, here is a link to my books tab The Hard Way. This link will also work for the giveaway on April 11th-13th.
