As many are aware, April is National Autism Awareness Month. It goes without saying that this is a time when understanding and acceptance towards individuals with autism is emphasized more often than usual, but this attention should not be neglected when the month ends. There should be awareness every month of the year, similar to Black History Month and Women's History Month, towards the everyday obstacles of those living with autism. Unfortunately, most do not understand what autism is and the proper language to use when speaking about people with disabilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term consisting of a wide spectrum, meaning that a person with autism could have Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and so on. These individuals typically have limited eye contact, lack of social skills, repetitive behaviors, and limited interest in certain subjects. There has been a growing number of diagnoses over recent years, due to doctors being more able to recognize the symptoms of autism.
Although autism is considered a disability, those with autism should not be defined by their disability. In fact, there are individuals with autism who have written books, created artwork, can play musical instruments, and so on. They are "people with autism" not "autistic people." They should not be defined by a label. We need to emphasize their abilities, rather than their disabilities.
No person with autism, or any disability, should be labeled as "mentally disturbed" or with the "r" word. If society is educated about how these labels can be hurtful to others, they can be further eliminated. As I stated earlier, person-first language is important when speaking about people with autism or any disability. These individuals are much more than being solely identified by their disability.
It is also important to understand that many people with autism do not want to find a cure for autism. They are perfectly fine with being different from others, as everyone is different anyway. It is common knowledge that everyone exhibits a different learning style. Some learn best with visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learning. The same also goes for people with autism. As a future special education teacher, I have learned about the ways that students with autism can learn more effectively if they are given a safe space to use their senses in a way to prevent sensory overload, which can distract them from learning effectively.
Whether you decide to wear blue during Autism Awareness Month, know someone with autism or do not, everyone can recognize Autism Awareness Month by doing research on this topic. By recognizing the accomplishments of individuals in the autism community and staying aware of the facts, ignorance can be prevented. Most will meet a person with autism at least once in his or her life, so it is important to treat these individuals equally and be able to provide a safe space for them.
