April is known as “Autism Awareness Month” or “Autism Acceptance Month,” depending on who you ask. I wanted to take the opportunity to say a few words about the difference between awareness and acceptance when it comes to disability justice.
Awareness campaigns are essentially “beware” campaigns. They suggest a looming threat that requires vigilance. Awareness is framed primarily around burden, tragedy, prevention, or cure. Awareness, in this form, does not lead to inclusion; it leads to fear, stigma, and the idea that a better world is one where autism is pushed into invisibility. None of the awareness campaigns are saying to be aware of all the joy and wisdom that autistic people can bring.
Historically, disability awareness campaigns have often been tied to prenatal testing, genetic research aimed at prevention, and normalization efforts that prioritize appearing non-autistic over living well as an autistic person. This is part of a long pattern in which society has tried to reduce the number of people who are different rather than to build a world that accommodates difference.
In contrast, acceptance is a fundamentally different framework. Acceptance means recognizing that autistic people have a right to exist, that autistic ways of thinking and experiencing the world are not inherently wrong, and that the goal of intervention should be quality of life rather than indistinguishability from peers. It also means recognizing that the environment, not just the individual, must change and suggests that autistic people should have a voice in research, clinical practice, and policy that affects them.
As a clinician, I strive to facilitate acceptance and challenge ableist narratives about autistic individuals, even when well-intentioned. This goes along with not using the puzzle piece symbol, because when advocacy for autistic people is done by autistic folks themselves, or by folks who have taken the time to understand the autistic experience, this community is not so confusing and is not a puzzle begging for a solution. If you are new to disability rights as they apply to the Autistic community, here is a link to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) where you can read more of this perspective.