April 14, 2024, The Montclarion (Montclair State U., Upper Montclair, NJ): EDITORIAL: Showing Kindness This Autism Acceptance Month
April is declared as Autism Acceptance Month. This month, we can learn more about autism and raise awareness for inclusion and acceptance while breaking the stigma surrounding the condition.
There has been a lot of stigma surrounding people with autism, whether it be in schools, the media or anywhere else. This stigma leads to ignorance, bullying, harassment or discrimination.
Spark for Autism reports, “The shame and isolation experienced by people with autism and their families is smilar to that experienced by other groups whose differences set them apart. But autism has some unique characteristics that have created an almost perfect storm for rejection, some researchers say.”
The organization also reports on a study that took place stating, “children on the spectrum found that about 75 percent were left out of activities by other kids often or sometimes. About 13 percent were physically bullied, and 37 percent were teased, at least some of the time.”
To break these stigmas, we must educate ourselves and others on autism. . . .
Some other facts about the condition are “1 in 36 children are diagnosed with Autism” and “over 7 million individuals in the United States are on the Autism spectrum; Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S.” . . .
People with autism face unfair treatment and exclusion because they have traits that the general population does not share with them. This month, we have to look inward at ourselves and make a conscious effort to be an ally. Just because you have never bullied anyone with autism does not mean you are showing acceptance and love towards those who are different.
There are many ways we can show our support this month. We can watch media that shows good representation for people with autism, follow autistic creators and businesses and just show kindness to everyone regardless of their differences.
Kindness and inclusion makes more of an impact than you would think.
We do not bring awareness to this condition in hopes of finding a cure, but instead to celebrate and highlight people on the spectrum and their experiences, promote inclusion and help society have a better understanding of autism. . . .
