Autism Acceptance Month

You may have heard, it’s Autism Awareness Month. Some call it Autism Acceptance Month.
There are a lot of stereotypes around what Autism means. (Hint… it’s not just little boys obsessed with trains, who have meltdowns and can’t look you in the eye.)

A good way to learn more about Autism is from… Autistic people.

I just finished the book, Strong Female Character, by Fern Brady. Fern is a gifted comedian, and a late diagnosed (as an adult) Autistic woman. Her book made me laugh, cry, and think about all the unnecessary pain that so many Autistic people go through.

Most likely you know someone who’s neurodiverse. Maybe even yourself! Everyday people are learning about little challenges they have masked for so long, they don’t even realize they are doing it. To unmask is both liberating and scary. It’s an act of bravery and self-acceptance.

Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome, or sometimes even the watered down more easily accessible label of Highly Sensitive Person) is to live with an invisible disability. When we take the time to learn about the challenges that someone living with ASD goes through, it leads to greater empathy.

Having empathy for people who go through life differently, is important. It means knowing that we will never truly understand want it is like to be them.

Having empathy means trusting the person to know what their needs are.

Having empathy means being open to accommodating those needs, even if they cause a slight inconvenience.

Having empathy means understanding that we are all doing the best we can, and giving each other as much grace as possible.

It’s also about recognizing the amazing strengths of the neurodiverse brain. As a wise woman once said, we need all the brains!

Here are some books and podcasts I recommend (all by Autistics themselves) if you are interested in learning more about what it is like to live as an Autistic person. There are amazing gifts to understand and appreciate, and also challenge areas to be aware of.

Books

Strong Female Character, By Fern Brady (also a great comedian BTW!)

Unmasking Autism, By Devon Price

Podcasts

Meet My Autistic Brain ,By a Female Autistic Lawyer

The Square Peg Podcast ,Conversations with Autistics

You Tube

I’m Autistic, Now What?

Orion Kelly – That Autistic Guy

Bringing Autism (and neurodiversity in general) Awareness into the Workplace…

I teach Empowering People in the Workplace skills. The EPW concept that is helpful here is Perception. We tend to think that others perceive the world in the same way we do. It is useful to question that assumption.

Autism Acceptance Month is a good time to remember that everyone has different perceptions, and sometimes they are based on our neurotype.