Autism Awareness Rocks

In 2021 someone doodled a little creature with the letters TBH next to it. Someone saw it and commented that it could be the spokesperson for autism. Many autistic people latched onto the little creature, also sometimes known as Yippee. Some people say they relate to Yippee because he looks sort of lost and overwhelmed, which is how we often feel in many, many situations. 

For years, Autism Speaks has used a blue lightbulb symbol and asked people to "light it up blue"  in April for autism awareness. Because  large part of the autistic community has bad feelings about that organization, and because the color blue can represent Autism Speak's old misinformation anout autism being more common in boys, someone came up with the red light bulb instead.  The red lightbulb is a symbol of autism acceptance and appreciation.

Yellow Ladybugs is an Australian organization that specifically supports autistic females and gender diverse people.  In Australia in April, households and businesses put on yellow lights, and people wear yellow or display yellow ladybugs in support of autistic females and gender diverse people. I wish we had an organization like this in the USA!

The chemical symbol for gold is AU, which is why autistic people adopted it as a color to represent us. We also focus on acceptance and appreciation, rather than awareness. It is one thing to be aware that something exists. Its another to accept and embrace it as part of your world.
The infinity symbol is usually used instead of the ribbon. It represents the infinite diverse characteristics and experiences of autistic people, ,and encourages acceptance and inclusion.

The rainbow inifinity symbol is similar to the gold one, but often represents neurodiversity. Neurodiversity includes autism, and also ADHD, mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and anyone whose brain works differently from the typical brain.  There are probably way more neurodivergent people than we know about. 

In 2005, some autistic people in the UK created Autistic Pride Day, . This is still celebrated more widely in the UK, and is not really recognized in the USA unfortunately. Autistic Pride is different from awareness or acceptance, because it encourages autistic people to be proud of our differences. Autism does not have to be seen as a disability that has to be treated. It can be seen as a different way of experiencing the world. We dont have to be ashamed of our autistic traits or try to hide them. We can let our true selves shine!