On April 2nd each year, we celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. There are many things you can do to celebrate this awareness day. Attend local celebrations, read up on autism spectrum disorder, join social media groups promoting autism awareness and advocacy, and generally, spread the word about Autism. In recent years, two groups within the autism community have been engaged in an ongoing discussion about autism awareness vs acceptance or advocacy. Traditionally, the color worn on World Autism Awareness Day has been blue, but members of neurodiverse community are calling for a shift in thinking, asking allies to wear red to support autism acceptance and advocacy rather than just increased awareness. At Northern Colorado Assessment Center, we want to increase awareness as well as promoting acceptance of and advocacy with the neurodiverse community. Whatever color you wear to show your support for people with autism, we hope you’ll take time to learn more about autistic-led and neurodiverse programs and groups and how you can support these organizations.
What is World Autism Awareness Day?
World Autism Awareness Day is all about increasing the awareness and understanding of individuals with autism. The idea is that, the more we know, the better we can support our friends and community members who have autism. World Autism Awareness Day is one opportunity to show your support and declare yourself an ally to the neurodiverse community. Remember, being an ally is all about informed support, so educate yourself and find out how you can help promote awareness about the autistic community. Read information from autistic-led organizations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Level UP! and other neurodiverse-inclusive programs to ensure you are offering acceptance and advocacy as well as increasing your own awareness about autism.
Why is it Important?
There are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be a person with autism. World Autism Awareness Day is essential to bring awareness to the real challenges faced by people with autism as well as shining a light on the many gifts they give to those in their lives. The more we know about the lives of those with autism, the better able we are to support and accept them as they are and work beside them as advocates for the neurodiverse community. World Autism Awareness Day is all about giving more genuine kindness and support to people with autism.
How can I Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day?
You can likely find autism awareness, acceptance, and advocacy events and celebrations to attend in your local community. These are great opportunities to learn more about the lives of people with autism and show your support as an ally. One of the simplest ways to show your support is to learn a little bit about autism spectrum disorder. Spend time reading about autism or watching videos from people with autism who may share their experiences online for World Autism Awareness Day or as part of other neurodiversity awareness events.
One great thing you can do is visit the Autism Level UP! Site. This site is designed to help people understand where they fall on a spectrum as an ally for people with autism from Awareness to Advocacy. Then, it encourages allies to take steps to move to the next level of support for members of the autistic community. It’s a great resource to celebrate where you are and how far you can grow in your support of individuals with autism!
The Importance of Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder
At Northern Colorado Assessment Center, we offer comprehensive testing and assessment solutions for adults and children. That includes testing for autism spectrum disorder. The results of assessment can be used to help individuals better understand their unique strengths and areas where they may struggle. Assessment ensures access to necessary resources in school systems and through governmental agencies. The results of assessment may be used as part of an ongoing therapy plan to ensure people with autism receive individualized support to achieve their personal goals. If you’re interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Northern Colorado Assessment Center. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
