Keeping the Conversation Going After Autism Acceptance Month
As April comes to a close, and with it the official observation of autism awareness and acceptance, we challenge each other to keep the conversation going. Let’s continue to open our ears, minds, and hearts to the autism community. As a diagnosis, autism touches every country and culture and embraces different symbols, language, and ideas. One goal that can unite all of us is the need for greater support: meaningful, effective, and accessible services that address real needs; real community that brings people together; and real support for individuals and families.
“Nothing about us without us”
The folks at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) put it this way:
“Autistic people need to be involved whenever autism is discussed. When non-autistic people make decisions about autism without autistic input, those decisions are usually bad. We can make policies that help us live our lives and teach people how to be understanding and supportive of the autistic community.”
By learning more about autism and listening to the voices of those with autism spectrum disorder, we can all help support the broader autistic community.
What are our current challenges?
The pandemic has also provided a variety of unique opportunities for neurodiverse individuals in both school and the workforce. The flexibility of learning and working remotely removed anxieties for some people. Kaustinen mentions that she saw high school students academically excel by switching to a virtual learning environment. This has made teachers pause and look at the practices they’ve always used in education. She’s seen companies take more action in looking at neurodiversity, changing hiring practices instead of following the traditional interview processes. Kaustinen describes how “not trying to fix” but being accepting allows for more inclusivity in spaces we are all a part of.
How can we better support our kids and adults with autism?
As parents, we want our children to be happy and carry out their lives feeling capable and accomplished. With ASAN as an inspiration and resource, we’ve listed a few areas in which we can work to better support both our neurodiverse and neurotypical communities.
Advocating in school
Inclusion: Kids learn best when surrounded by their peers. Separating non-disabled and disabled children only widens the gap of understanding and learning. Advocating for more inclusive practices in classrooms leads to inclusivity in the workforce, housing communities, and everyday life.
Supports: For inclusion to truly work, our children need to be supported in classrooms with accommodations and services that allow them to access classroom material in a variety of ways. Teachings that follow Universal Design for Learning (UDL) make students feel comfortable, welcome, and valued along with their peers.
Support in the workforce
Job coaching: Job coaching can help people with autism prepare for job interviews and life in the workforce. With valuable resources like interview practice and resume writing, people with autism can be better prepared to enter the workforce.
Accommodations: As explained by ASAN, “Once we get a job, we may need accommodations like a daily work agenda with visuals, a consistent job schedule, or someone to help us with our job throughout the day.”
Housing and everyday responsibilities
Housing support: As ASAN says, people with autism “have specific needs when it comes to getting housing. We may be sensitive to certain sounds or lighting, need help doing tasks around the house, need assistive technology in the house to help us, or have other support needs.” Accessible and inclusive housing will aid people with disabilities when transitioning to adult communities.
Research and health care
Supportive research: Research that is focused on communication, community living, education, and health care for people with autism is what supports kids for their future. As Undivided parent Michelle Malewitz puts it, “There is nothing wrong with my child, he doesn’t need to be fixed, and he is not missing a piece. He is absolutely the same wonderful and amazing kid he was pre-diagnosis.”
Understanding autism: The more we understand about autism, the more accurate help and support our doctors and teachers can provide.