Background

October is Autism Acceptance Month in Canada. 

Many people have pointed out that the word “awareness” (used in World Autism Awareness Day) suggests concern and toleration. This is a less than positive way of looking at a diverse community of people with many interests, skills, and abilities. “Acceptance” is a word that conveys belonging and understanding. Many people are choosing to focus on acceptance.

As Canadians we are proud to be inclusive, and we can promote acceptance of autistic people in all areas of life.

In Our Families

We can remember all children are simply that: children, who flourish when they are loved and have the opportunity to grow by exploring their interests and abilities. We can make sure that any supports that are offered make communication and self-advocacy a priority. Therapists should be responsive to the comfort and preferences of the children they serve, and should collaborate with parents to provide strategies and activities that align with the culture of the family. No therapy should get in the way of trusting relationships.

We can also remember that children develop and learn in different ways and at different speeds. How fast a child learns and grows does not necessarily predict their potential, and a lack of expressive communication does not necessarily mean a lack of understanding, either. Development should be supported, not rushed.

At School

We educate children to prepare them for life in their community. We hope students will have the skills to:

• build relationships that are mutually helpful and satisfying
• think deeply and reflectively about the world
• develop skills to support themselves and others

We have the same goals for all children, recognizing that everyone contributes in different ways. 

It isn’t easy to meet the needs of diverse learners in one classroom, but our education system does support all children learning together and from each other. We can advocate for needed supports to make learning possible for everyone. While we want to make it possible for learners to be in one classroom space, our schools can provide alternate spaces for students who need to take breaks from noise and activity. We can encourage all students to be curious and accepting about differences. We promote acceptance and belonging when we remove barriers to learning and foster a culture of inclusion.

In Our Communities

We want everyone to grow up to lead meaningful, productive, and independent lives. However, no one is completely independent. Self-sufficiency is always balanced with the help we need from members of our community. 

Everyone needs to depend on others sometimes, whether they have a disability or not. We have different needs, but we are one community, and we are more alike than our differences might suggest.

During Autism Awareness Month, we can:

• help members of our community when needed
• embrace others who see the world differently
• remember that, in celebrating diversity, we can all contribute to an interesting and supportive community