Awareness vs. Acceptance
- annaksturgeon
- Apr 2, 2024
- 2 min read
April 2nd was previously known as Autism Awareness Day. We have seen a shift in previous years from Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance. With the prevalence of autism being 1 in 36 individuals, most people either know someone personally or has been around someone affected by autism. We now focus on Autism Acceptance as a way to emphasize the need for support, love and acceptance to autistic individuals, their families and our communities.
As professionals, we have witnessed an evolution of our services with a greater focus on neurodiversity-affirming care and less on restrictive and "cookie cutter" treatments for our autistic clients. Thanks to social media we are able to hear from autistic adults who share their own personal experiences growing up in a neurotypical world and we are able to adjust our therapies, our focuses and our goals to better accommodate those we work with.
When entering into a professional relationship with an autistic individual (regardless of age) and their families, the first steps should always be...
Meet them where they are
Get to know THEM for who THEY are right now (not who you might envision them to be)
Resist the urge to feel like you should change or "fix" them
We are entrusted with the care of our clients and families to assist them in developing life-changing developmental skills, decreasing harmful behaviors and creating a more calm and balanced life. Our goal should be to identify what makes them HRE: HAPPY, RELAXED and ENGAGED and adjust our goals and treatment plans accordingly. Celebrate their differences and individuality and stand side by side with them as you navigate this journey together. Treatment should never impede their autonomy or individuality.
All month long we celebrate, but the celebration should never be limited to only one month. Working with our clients is a privilege and that responsibility should never be taken lightly.
Have questions regarding autism services/supports?
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