It’s Autism Acceptance Week!

I don’t often make timely posts, but I really wanted to write something, even if short, for World Autism Acceptance Week, which is from the 27th March to the 2nd April! Much like any other ‘awareness’ type week, it’s a 7-day-period dedicated to autism, and lots of people and organisations undertake fundraising or other activities, to help teach people about autism and support charities with a focus on autism.

I thought I’d briefly talk a bit about the name change this week went through in 2021 – from ‘Autism Awareness Week’ to ‘Autism Acceptance Week’. I can understand why the difference between the two seems minimal to some, however I can also understand why many people take offense to the latter.

‘Awareness’ implies that autism is not a difference but an illness or condition that people need to be on the look out for, or warned of, while ‘acceptance’ suggests that autistic individuals need to be better supported to properly enable them to be part of society (as they should be) – ‘acceptance’ suggests that society is the problem and needs to change, to become one that works for autistic people. Awareness also doesn’t necessarily state that society needs to do something. Being aware of autism doesn’t mean society is going to start accepting that some people are different!

Personally, I don’t mind too much either way (because often I know that the intent is not to suggest autism is a problem), but the implications speak for themselves: autism needs to be accepted, not something people should be ‘aware of’.

The theme this year is colour, and charities like the National Autistic Society are running events like spectrum colour walks as well as encoraging individuals to carry out their own fundraising activities. Will you be fundraising, or donate, this year?