Celebrating Autism Awareness and Acceptance

Fact checked by Marley Hall

April is Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. During the entire month of April, you'll hear about autism-oriented fundraisers, autism awareness presentations, autism-friendly happenings, and special opportunities to recognize people on the autism spectrum. You'll also notice that many people and activities have the color blue as part of their theme.

Most of the people who celebrate Autism Awareness Day are neurotypical parents, organizers, and others who care for or about autism. But where are the autistic self-advocates? In many cases, they are actively avoiding the celebrations.

Different responses to Autism Awareness Day and Month come about as a result of the history of the events, the intent behind the events, and the people who created them.

Read more about the top autism charities that deserve your support.

The Origins of Autism Awareness

Autism, as a diagnosis, has changed radically over the past several decades. Back before the 1990s, autism was not considered to be a spectrum disorder. Thus anyone with an autism diagnosis had relatively intense autism traits. Many professionals believed that autism was a result of poor parenting. An autistic adult was typically thought to require an institutional setting.

The movie "Rain Man," with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, provides a good insight into autism in those days. Hoffman's character has been institutionalized for most of his life, despite his verbal and intellectual abilities. Leaving the institution is a frightening experience; he requires full-time care from his brother in order to successfully navigate the outside world.

Enter Dr. Bernard Rimland, a psychologist with an autistic son. He debunked the theory that cold, uncaring "refrigerator mothers" caused autism and created an organization called The Autism Society in 1965.

Events That Take Place During Autism Awareness Month

Autism Awareness Month kicks off on April 2 (to avoid April Fool's Day) with World Autism Awareness Day, celebrated each year by the United Nations. On that day, you can expect to see an awful lot of blue.

People in blue T-shirts, homes with blue lights, and personal profiles with a blue puzzle piece will be everywhere. There will also be media coverage of autism, special stories about autistic people, and promotion of merchandise featuring the autism puzzle piece icon.

Look for buildings lit with the blue light. In the past, some iconic buildings that have been lit up blue include the Empire State Building in New York City, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and the CN Building in Toronto.

During the month of April you'll find, among other things:

• Special "sensory friendly" days at all kinds of venues, from movie theaters to amusement parks

• Autism awareness events at schools, community centers, hospitals, and elsewhere

• Fundraising marches and events across the United States and beyond

Why Doesn't Everyone Love Autism Awareness Month?

Some people avoid participation in Autism Awareness events because of its founding by Autism Speaks, which became a controversial partner within the autism community. Autistic self-advocates and many groups of parents have had issues with their funding priorities, governance, and perspectives on the causes of autism.

Some issues have faded away but others are still of concern. They include the historic absence of autistic people on the Autism Speaks board, and a focus on research to find a link between autism and vaccines.

Those opposed to Autism Speaks note that from its very inception, the organization has focused more on "fixing" and "curing" autism rather than understanding autism as neurodivergence. The vast majority of the many resources created by Autism Speaks are intended, not for autistic people, but for their parents and families.

Some people see specific events, such as the "Light It Up Blue" campaign, as perpetuating a stereotype through alignment with Autism Speaks. For example, they feel the blue puzzle-piece logo used during events connotes a sense of incompleteness or inferiority in autistic people.

For many families, particularly those who benefit from or support programs at Autism Speaks, Autism Awareness Month is a very important observance. For those with a different perspective, however, Autism Acceptance may be a better choice.