Every year autism awareness month comes around, but have you stopped to think that for people with autism, every day is autism awareness day?
You may know that autism is not a single condition but a collection of conditions. That is why autism is called a spectrum condition.
Despite this there are many neurotypicals that are not autism-friendly, and this includes many who are autism advocates. These so-called advocates either do not understand or do not care about the emotional makeup of those on the spectrum.
I have personally experienced this. A facilitator for an autism parent group was belligerent towards me and gossiped about me to the members of that group. This behavior is just unacceptable for someone in the autism advocacy arena.
These people need to be educated about the emotional makeup of many of those on the spectrum. These people need a little autism awareness.
Autism Awareness for Advocates
What are some ways advocates could be more aware of autism?
- Being aware of the emotional makeup of various people on the autism spectrum.
- Not being beligerent to a person on the spectrum.
- Being more aware of the characteristics of autism, provided the person on the spectrum is not being intentionally rude.
- Educating the person on the spectrum in the spirit of kindness.
- Never ever bully somone on the spectrum (nor bully anyone else for that matter).
Autism Awareness Day 2026
Today is Autism Awareness Day Every life, including those with autism, has value. This day's observice per the UN is titled Autism and Humanity-Every Life Has Value. Resolution UN Res/62/139 was adopted December 18, 2007 and started being observed April 2, 2008.
Autism and Human Rights
In line with this years UN theme it might be in order to discuss the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
The first article sets the tone for the rest of the Declaration. "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience, and should act towards one another in the spirit of brotherhood." Some people tend to shout about their rights while at the same time forgetting about the rights of others. This is not in the spirit of the UN Delcaration
I am a firm believer in human rights and I believe all human rights matter, provided that the right being espoused is not aimed at the denigration of the rights of another person or population.
Past UN Celebrations
The UN has worked hard to create awareness for autism events. The past five events have focused on:
- Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2025).
- Moving from Thriving to Surviving: Autistic Individuals Share Regional Perspetives (2024).
- Transformation: Toward a Neuro-inclusive World for All (2023).
- Inclusive-Quality Education for All (2022).
- Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-pandamic World (2021).
- Assistive Technologies, Active Participation (2019).
The UN has been a wonderful advocate in creating autism awareness
Ways Neurotypicals Can
Create Autism Awareness
- Set up a booth at any of the Autism Society's annual autism events and invite others to participate with you.
- Invite others to join you at the UN autism streaming event.
- Have a gathering on or near Autism Awarness Day and invite those on the autism spectrum.
- Give a speech at an autism organization.
- Create an autism web site or blog
- Start an autism awareness charity
- Write, an essay, article, or a book
- Join the board of an autism charity
- Start a business that caters to the autism community.
- Become an autism-life coach
- Start a public access TV or radio program aimed at an autism community audience.
- Start a social media site that creates autism awareness.
- Use bumber stickers that create autism awareness.
- Include a person with autism in an activity.
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