As April comes to a close, we join our friends and family in the Autistic community and celebrate the journey that all of us are making toward full inclusion for all people. During Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month, we remember that Autism is a natural part of the life experience, and we can do our part to design and promote spaces, both physical and otherwise, that don’t exclude individuals with different sensory experiences or who process things differently, but instead find ways to better engage and support people in multiple ways. For more information on the best ways to work with autistic co-workers, communities and friends, check out this guide from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Finding this middle ground will allow us to provide better support, better communication and better engagement with all people. This effort can only result in the outcome stated by the United Nations, “a world which values, includes, and celebrates all kinds of minds.”
Sesame Street introduces family of muppet with autism | NBC News
In honor of Autism Awareness Acceptance Month, the children’s show introduced Julia’s family, hoping to take away the isolation some families may feel.
The Ableist History of the Puzzle Piece Symbol for Autism | In the Loop About NeuroDiversity
On World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) , many neurotypical people show support and spread “autism awareness” for their autistic family members and friends by displaying the puzzle piece ribbon, wearing puzzle piece pins, and put puzzle piece stickers and decals on their car bumpers and windows. But one question is commonly forgotten; what do autistic people themselves think of the puzzle piece symbol?
Invisible Abuse: ABA and the things only autistic people can see | The Aspergian
If you want to upset a self-described Autism Mom, all you have to do is tell her that ABA is abusive. This argument breaks out on social media so many times every single day. Autism is an unusual condition because the community is so sharply divided. On one side you have the neurotypical parents and families of autistic children, and on the other you have the online community of adult autistic people, many of whom are parents to autistic children. The two sides disagree on virtually everything, but arguably the most contentious subject is Applied Behaviour Analysis Therapy.
Spurs to open Sensory Room in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day | NBC News 4 San Antonio
The San Antonio Spurs announced that they will open a new Sensory Room inside the AT&T Center in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day prior to the game vs. the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, April 2. The room, designed by nonprofit KultureCity, is located outside of Section 230 on the Balcony Level and will be an oasis for guests at any event in the AT&T Center with sensory needs or sensory-processing issues such as Autism, PTSD, dementia, or anxiety.
Goldman Sachs plans to hire more neurodiverse employees, including people on the autism spectrum | CNN Business
Goldman Sachs is the latest company to target job candidates on the autism spectrum as it looks to boost diversity. The investment bank told employees on Tuesday that it’s launching an eight-week paid internship for individuals with work experience who identify as neurodiverse, which includes those with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, developmental disorders and other mental health conditions. The program, which provides “on-the-desk” work experience in one of Goldman’s divisions in New York, New Jersey and Salt Lake City, is designed to lead to a full-time job at the firm.
April 2019: Autism Acceptance Month | AUCD
AUCD, our members, and partners have used this as an opportunity to share information relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders. The month has traditionally been framed as Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 as World or International Autism Awareness Day. In recent years you may have noticed that AUCD has shifted to include both “Awareness” and “Acceptance” in our April messaging. 2019 marks our full transition to April as Autism Acceptance Month.
Autism Acceptance Month | ASAN
April is Autism Acceptance Month, part of a history of campaigns by autistic people and our allies to shift the month’s focus from autism awareness to autism acceptance. In support of this community-wide effort, ASAN has created a dedicated website for Autism Acceptance Month, and provides unique programming every April focused on promoting acceptance and inclusion and changing the dialogue about autism from fear, pity, and tragedy to support, acceptance, and empowerment.