April also happens to be Autism Awareness Month. Some people celebrate, some don't, so keep in mind everything here is how we feel about this month.
If you're here reading this, you're already autism aware; congratulations! It's now our turn (and yours!) to go a little beyond that. Here are some ideas to spread compassion for autism this month:
1. Educate yourself! Pass along what you learn with others. The biggest thing to keep in mind about autism is that it affects every person with the diagnosis differently. As the saying goes, "once you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism". Don't assume that what you know can be applied to every person on the spectrum. Here are a few good places with basics and links to learn more:
-CDC
-NIH
Since you are here already, we also love to answer peoples' questions!
(I'd also like to briefly add that the autism community is a diverse one. Not everyone affected by it feels the same way about its potential causes, treatments, cure, or prevention. Just keep that in mind if you get to reading more than the broadest info about ASD, especially online.)
2. Wear something. It seems like such a simple and passive thing to do, but if wearing a puzzle piece ribbon opens up even one conversation with someone about autism, then I think it's worth it. Tomorrow, April 2, you can wear blue as part of Autism Speaks' international Light It Up Blue campaign to raise autism awareness. Sevenly is also selling some very cool (but pricey) clothes with autism messages this week only. You can always Google if you want to buy other autism stuff; there's plenty to browse.
3. Screen your child, if you've ever had any concerns about autism. Or, screen yourself! (Please note that online measures will not replace the advice and care of a doctor - they'll just give you a better idea of how you or your child compares to major attributes of ASD. Bug actually passed the first screening at his 18 month appointment!)
4. Think more positively about the people around you. If we've learned anything from this autism journey so far, it's that you never can tell everything that's going on with an individual or family from seeing them once in public. Or in many cases, even seeing them on a regular basis. Some people aren't open with diagnoses, like we have been. The bottom line is, you never know what is really driving peoples' behavior, so don't assume the worst!
5. Lend a hand. If you know someone affected by autism, offer to help them out somehow (and we're not fishing for anything, so think beyond our family!). You can take a meal, offer to have a child over for a playdate, organize a moms' or dads' night out for a parent, or offer to babysit. The biggest thing you can do is just be a friend. If you know a parent to a child with autism, don't let your childrens' differences hinder your friendship (your kids have more in common than you may think). If you know an individual with autism, work to have a genuine relationship with him/her. Make a true effort to enter his/her world and see things around us the way he/she sees them.
These are just a few ideas. When the month of April is over, don't forget what you've learned! For families and individuals affected by ASD, autism awareness isn't reserved to April; it's an everyday thing. They need love, kindness, and understanding all year long.
