Autism Awareness isn’t Overrated, but Maybe the Phrase is?

What’s Your Perception of what Autism Awareness Really Is?

Image created by author, many years ago, when I loved all awareness campaigns

It’s Autism Awareness Month again. Or Autism Acceptance Month, depending on what you think or who you’ve listen to.

I’ve read many great posts again this year. I avoid all the posts about infighting — ‘they’ said this or whatever — who needs that kind of drama?

I can’t help feeling like we tend to sidestep our emotions as we react to this month and many of the experiences people post during it.

First, A note: I will never say that someone else’s opinion is wrong or right, even if I might disagree with it. I might talk about what I think awareness is, but you don’t have to agree! Part of an open, honest discussion means that we must first come together and talk about this before we work to fix it.

Second, I think autism awareness is a way to spread, promote, and otherwise share the facts about what autism is and how it impacts individuals and families. You know that old saying — you can’t really understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes? When it comes to autism awareness, there’s a whole population of amazing people who are misunderstood, misrepresented, stigmatized, and otherwise devalued because of a label that society doesn’t…