Autism Acceptance Month – Embracing Differences and Advocating for Your Autistic Child
Also, check out how to teach self-calming strategies to your autistic child from Speech and Language Kids
April 8, 2025
April has had a special place in my heart since my son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (now part of autism spectrum disorder) at age 4. Back then, the month was focused on autism awareness, and now it has evolved to be more focused on autism acceptance. I have even seen recently some people referring to it as Autism Empowerment Month. That is a good evolution, and it has even more meaning to me as a parent of an autistic child.
In this featured blog post on Autism & ADHD Connection, I share what this month means to me.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is just that – a broad spectrum of capabilities and challenges. We don’t like to use high or low functioning labels, and it makes sense because some individuals can be high functioning in some areas of their lives and lower functioning in others. I’ve started explaining the tiers (levels 1,2 and 3) of autism to help others better understand where my son and others may fall within the spectrum. That seems to be an easier and more accurate way to explain it.
Yet, we have a long way to go in having our autistic children – no matter their age – accepted in this world. Whether it’s at school, church, sports teams or even the workplace, too many of our children still face isolation, bullying and misunderstanding. As parents, we advocate for our kids, teens, and young adults every day. We then must teach them how to advocate for themselves.
In my blog post, I discuss ways in which I have stepped up my advocacy efforts for my autistic son to give you some ideas of what you could do as well. In this changing cultural environment, speaking up for your autistic child, teen and young adult has become even more important. It’s also essential to teach them self-advocacy skills. I feel like, unfortunately, we have slid back so much in just two months as a country in this area. Yet, we must advocate because our children deserve and have a right to live the best lives they can as children, teenagers, and adults – at home, school, work and in our communities.
Inspirational Quote
“Autism is a way of being. It’s not something you get over. It’s part of the tapestry of who you are.”
– Michelle Garcia Winner (Author and Speech-Language Pathologist)
Resources Available
Does your autistic child struggle with calming themselves when they get upset? Speech and Language Kids offers a video and some helpful PDFs of visual aids to help parents learn how to teach self-calming techniques to their autistic children. You can access them on their webpage at: https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/calming-children-self-calming-strategies/
Take care of yourself this week.
Tamara McGuire
P.S. Follow me on Bluesky and/or Pinterest. As a certified financial educator, I also write on Medium about personal finance: Tamara McGuire – Medium.
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