April 24, 2023
By Ava Gonzalez
Staff Writer
As April comes to a close, so does Autism Awareness Month, and you can pledge to create unity within our society and accept those with autism to create a more cohesive and welcoming environment. Autism is a spectrum and developmental disorder that can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. This can affect the nervous system. Autism can impact the ability to interact, engage in social situations and communicate as well as understand feelings and emotions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded that autism affects one in 36 children in the United States.
Autism Awareness Month, which was created by the Autism Society, has been recognized since 1970. During April, you can wear blue to show support for people with autism. Some homes and businesses even replace their usual lights with blue ones to raise awareness and demonstrate their advocacy. People can also participate in conferences, fundraisers, walks, workshops and so much more.
Companies that partner with the National Autism Association include AcatalkerAAC, The Autism Site, Comfees Premium Diapers, Jasco, Quality Pasta Company, RoadID and Vivint Gives Back. Businesses can even become a partner of the NAA by donating. Smaller donations can be made through the organization Autism Speaks. There are so many ways to participate and give back to the community this month and throughout the year.
I have done work with the D6 Challenger, an organization run by my aunt Elisa Cruz, where I worked with kids who had autism, Down syndrome and other disabilities to facilitate their baseball games in Palisades Park. Through this experience, I learned how important patience is and treating people whom society may deem “different.” I also learned about many misconceptions about autism.
I encourage students who have an interest in supporting those with autism to join Unified Club to bring more inclusivity to our community and provide students with disabilities an opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, play sports and have fun. From this experience, you can expand your mindset and learn more about other people and how to be more respectful, patient and understanding.
You can also watch movies that have autism representation and share it with your friends and family. Some of these movies include Best Kept Secret, The Horse Boy, Rain Man and Temple Grandin. You can even search up and learn about celebrities with autism such as Tim Burton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Michelangelo, Elon Musk, Sir Issac Newton and Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokemon.
I encourage students who have an interest in supporting those with autism to join Unified Club to bring more inclusivity to our community and provide students with disabilities an opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, play sports and have fun.
Temple Gardin is such an inspirational figure in the autism community. She is an advocate for using her autism to help her succeed rather than hold her back because of other people’s expectations. She is a professor, animal behaviorist, author and public speaker. Participating in Autism Awareness Month can allow you to learn about these important figures and their amazing contributions to society.
Autism Awareness Month serves to educate people on how to make a more welcoming environment where people are free to be themselves and not suppress their identities to fit in. This begins with not categorizing certain people as normal and not creating barriers by assuming what one is and is not capable of because of how they were born.
Autism occurs on such a wide spectrum, and it is necessary not to generalize or stereotype people, as that can be hurtful and shallow. It also limits the opportunities available to people with autism, as they are confined to limitations set by others.
It is also important that as a society we are aware of people’s triggers and how we can cultivate a more safe and comforting environment. Whether this be lowering our volume, avoiding sudden noises, respecting personal space or being more accepting, if someone is having a hard day or even just a challenging moment, rather than judging them, give them the space to work through their emotions.
Unfortunately, people with autism often get stigmatized, which can lead to a behavior known as camouflaging. This is where people hide and suppress their autistic traits in an attempt to fit in and be accepted. This is commonly done at jobs and schools as well as in relationships. Examples of this compensation occur by copying the body language, facial expressions and social cues of peers or those in movies and books.
We are nearing the end of the month, but remember that autism awareness should not just take place in April but year-round. By engaging in acceptance, society can become more well-rounded and achieve greater inclusivity, which, in turn, will make the world a kinder and better place.
