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April marks Autism Awareness Month. Every parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and those with Autism Spectrum Disorder will tell you that every day, every month of every year is Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a lifelong disability. According to Webster's Dictionary, acceptance means 1. the act of taking or receiving something offered. 2. favorable reception; approval; favor. 3. the act of assenting or believing: acceptance of a theory. 4. the fact or state of being accepted or acceptable. Awareness means 1. the state or condition of being aware; having knowledge; consciousness. Awareness is knowing that something is happening. Acceptance is seeing a person for who they are. Awareness is focused on shortcomings or deficits. Acceptance is focused on what you're good at and what can you do for yourself. Awareness means you can identify a neurodiversity. Acceptance means you're able to talk to neurodiverse individuals and gain understanding and compassion. Awareness is trying to cure me. Acceptance is not trying to cure me.  Image created by Maisie Moore she/they - Autism Advocate @mini.moores Sources: https://nsadvocate.org/2018/03/20/autism-awareness-or-acceptance-two-very-different-mindsets/ https://www.instagram.com/mini.moores/
7 Comments
Caitlin Caskey
4/13/2023 10:54:46 am
This is beautiful, thank you! I'm the mom of 3 amazing kids on the spectrum. They are all brilliant, amazing, resilient, and so very loved. There is nothing at all puzzling or missing about them, that puzzle piece is so insulting!
This article offputs me.
6/29/2023 09:45:52 pm
I'm on the spectrum and I hate when journalists push this narrative. I myself should have the right to choose to leave the spectrum. I'm not a fan of autism speaks however because they are little more than a money laundering scam who's research is designed to go nowhere. I still want to leave the spectrum.
Amber
2/22/2024 02:19:41 am
As someone who was not diagnosed as neurodivergent until I was middle aged, some awareness could have saved me decades of self-loathing. It is hard to have any of those acceptance benefits if you do not know that you are autistic in the first place. It is easy for those who received a diagnosis in childhood to assume that awareness is not an issue. You would have a different perspective if you lived 40 years without anyone bringing up the possibility that you may be autistic. Let’s raise awareness AND acceptance.
Emman
8/12/2024 01:40:19 am
It's great to see a discussion on the distinction between awareness and acceptance. While awareness is crucial, true progress comes with acceptance. For families navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder, understanding how <a href="https://aiimchoices.com.au/autism-funding-how-ndis-can-help/">NDIS funding for autism</a> can support their needs is essential. It's not just about knowing autism exists but actively embracing and supporting individuals with ASD through meaningful resources and acceptance.
Seneke Cynthia
3/5/2025 12:05:19 pm
I am raising a 20year old beautiful girl who was diagnosed with Autism in 2008. Acceptance is key for parents and close family members and awareness is huge to help the world and have better understanding. It takes the universe to raise a child. I am a proud Mom who was chosen by God to raise the Autistic girl without any manual. let us proceed to create the awareness. 7/12/2025 02:19:54 pm
I liked reading this it’s all good stuff 👍 Leave a Reply. |
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