(UK) "Autism Acceptance Week shifts focus from awareness to inclusion"
- The end of childhood
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
April 1, 2025, North East Bylines: Awareness to acceptance: embracing autism and making society more inclusive
Autism Acceptance Week shifts focus from awareness to inclusion, urging society to support and accommodate autistic people
A few years ago, the National Autistic Society changed the name of its Autism Awareness week to Autism Acceptance Week. This year it runs from 2 to 8 April. In fact, they will be celebrating it for a whole month this year with some fundraising events such as the Spectrum Colour Walk in London on Saturday 5 April or walking 5K your own way at home, school or on holiday!
The National Autistic Society said in 2022|:
“Based on your feedback, we’re pleased to announce that we will be changing the name World Autism Acceptance Week (from World Autism Awareness Week). Thank you to everyone who helped with this”.
Acceptance and accommodation rather than just awareness
This change came from individuals with autism themselves in a bid to make their condition a difference that society should accommodate rather than simply be made aware of. In the past a common view was that autism was a condition that needed to be ‘fixed’. This narrative needs to change to one that accepts and accommodates autism. For example, rather than the onus being on the person with autism to change what can YOU do to support someone with autism? How can you change your surroundings to make it more accessible for them? . . .
Social interaction
It’s important to highlight the difficulties people on the autistic spectrum face in day to day life. For example, social interaction is often a very difficult area for those with autism. I work in the field of autism as a Speech and Language Therapist and commonly have people here say that they don’t understand the point of small talk and don’t know how to start or maintain a conversation. Sometimes they may only want to talk about an area of special interest to them even if others don’t. . . .
Some of the positives
However, having autism can also bring many positives. People on the spectrum tend to have a great attention to detail that make some IT companies specifically headhunt them. Likewise, having expert knowledge in an area of special interest can make someone very employable.
Being honest, resilient, loyal and committed are not only great skills for the workplace but also for fighting injustices in the world for long periods of time, often without being worried what others think of them for doing so. Greta Thunberg would be the perfect example of someone with autism who does this for environmental issues.
Questioning social norms can mean that people with autism can be less judgemental and more accepting of others for who they are and not for their social status or career etc.
Next time you meet someone who may be less socially adept, please consider the fact they may have a hidden disability such as autism and try to be more patient. Remember there are a lot of adults who have not even had an official diagnosis so they may be unaware of this themselves and not received any support in this respect. Also remember people with autism bring many positives and great contributions to our families, communities and the world.
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