The month of April is National Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month, which means that many organizations are appreciating and lifting up their autistic community members, and in this informative editorial article, Sean informs Scroll readers about the history and significance of this celebration.
National Autism Awareness Month, as said by the Autism Society of America, “celebrates differences as it works to build an inclusive society where individuals with autism live fully through connection and acceptance.” On Apr. 2, 2008, the United Nations General Assembly declared the day as World Autism Awareness Day to help innovate programs that support and nurture autism. However, many of these programs unofficially celebrated autism awareness in the month of April even further back than 2008. In the 1970s, the Autism Society held the first National Autism Awareness Month, which had a widespread effect of spreading awareness amongst even more organizations, including Autism Research Institute, The Autism Community in Action, The Asperger/Autism Network, and Autism Canada.
For many, the mere awareness of individuals on the autistic spectrum is not where the line ends; the community is truly striving for acceptance. As said by Faiza Mawani on the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Institute for Human Rights blog, “The shift in terminology fosters acceptance to ignite change through improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care, and comprehensive long-term services.” Since then, many more organizations have advocated that, together, the world can foster an accepting society where no one is left behind and a more uplifting community is created for those whose autism creates social barriers.
The purpose of National Autism Awareness Month has proved vital since before the day was nationally known and the month was celebrated in the 1970s. Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), and Barbara McClintock (1902-1992) are all now known as historical figures with autism. However, their autism was not recognized in their time, due to the lack of social/psychological studies and awareness of the condition as such.
In recent years, many of those with autism have experienced a difficult time adapting to the dramatic changes in the world. According to a group of scholars who are a part of the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, “For people with autism, the additional distress and trauma caused by COVID-19 are likely to have worsened their core symptoms of autism and mental health. Overall, 20% of people with autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed with anxiety, whilst 11% suffer from depressive disorders. The additional distress caused by the pandemic will mean that people with autism and an existing psychological disorder are likely to have experienced a worsening of their mental health.” Both the past and present have exemplified the struggles of those with autism and the lack of appreciation and acceptance given to them. However, studies have shown ways to improve their mental health and support them through times that can be especially rough. Not all autistic people function or respond the same way so, to support them, one must ask about their specific needs ahead of time. (This question can also be directed to someone who knows them the best or takes ample care of them). Furthermore, as studied by the AFIRM (Autism Focused Intervention & Resources & Modules), there are seven strategies to support those with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) that are not limited to but include:
Support/understanding
Offer opportunities for expression
Prioritize coping and calming skills
Maintain routines
Build new routines
Foster connections (from a distance)
Be aware of changing behaviors
Through these easy behaviors that make a life-changing difference, members of our society have multiple ways and routes to communicate and effectively support autistic people, as well as uplift others to do the same-- not just in April, but year-round.
Many organizations have evolved throughout the years-- both within and outside of the nation. A majority of these organizations have the same message and end goal: to break the stigma regarding autistic people and create a fundamental understanding of the support they need to flourish. However, their perception of what autism is and the routes they take to reach people with autism vary. Organizations, networks, associations, and businesses that have received praise for their work in the past include a few of the following: Autistic Inclusive Meets, The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, The Asperger/Autism Network, and more. Others have been met with backlash, including Autism Speaks and the National Autistic Society. According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people, “Autism Speaks only has 1 autistic person out of a total 30 individuals on its Board of Directors.” Organizations have varying routes of assisting individuals with autism, leaving the public to determine which avenues are worth their support.
AutismSpeaksFlyer2021.pdfResources at Grants Pass High School itself are available for anyone who struggles with autism, and Stefanie Carini holds the position as the primary educator for SPED (Special Education) students. The following includes a series of responses regarding working and getting to know these kids that attend our school:
A: I think working with autistic students has helped me develop my patience and ability to adapt my mindset on understanding people as a whole. Students on the spectrum are all so beautifully different and, as I get to know them over the course of their high school years, I enjoy watching them grow, make friendships with others, and succeed in their classes. I think all people, autistic or not, have certain likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. It's just that how we cope, hide, and manage all our quirks is different.
A: I think that there are so many ways that people with autism are being honored in the world and I would like more of that. Many companies now hire people with autism because of the out-of-the-box thinking they can do, or the extreme talents they may have in a specific field. I like that there are schools that bridge the gap between high school and the working world, like Exceptional Minds, which is a school for design and animation for students with autism. I am glad there are research studies that continue to develop the understanding of people on the spectrum. I think the more we can understand and make connections with each other, the better we all will be.
A: Patience. Processing time. Relationships. Listening. Watching. I think my students tell me a lot without saying anything. I can help by noticing and not being afraid to ask questions of my students to develop a relationship, to understand challenges, and help find solutions that work for everyone. My students also need social interactions to practice their skills in that area so, on every Friday, we have Fun Friday, where we do an assortment of activities from board games, puzzles, and having conversations about life. I really like Fun Fridays because I love seeing students that normally would not talk to each other, or want to present something, or lead a group in a project, all of a sudden become the best Master of games and do a great job in creating a fun time for all to have.
A: I would give them the same advice I would give anyone. Find your passion, keep your peace, and try with all your might. At the end of the day, if you succeed or not, you learned something. Something about the subject, something about yourself, and you continue your journey knowing you gave it your all. What brings you joy is specific to you. You should just embrace it, hold it dear, and don’t care what others may think. Just be you. People will like you, promise. I know this because I like you.
From past, to present, to the future, the significance of appreciating and accepting people with autism has influenced many organizations to make their employment processes more inclusive, like the multiple programs AT&T has implemented to support disabled people who work for them (Ability: Advance, Advocate, Educate & Turner Disability Resource Group). Even in everyday life, the average person tuning in and being receptive to someone’s favorite interests, games, and hobbies can mean the world and make a difference.
