As the spring term approaches, flowers blossom and April is here. April is famous for a few things including April Fools Day and Eid al-Fitr. But like me, most of you probably never knew that April was Autism Awareness Month. Thats right! April is also a month for people with Autism to spread awareness and acceptance. As someone who doesn’t know much about Autism or has been around anyone with it, I thought it would be best to speak on it, not only to educate myself but others. Another thing that inspired me to write an article about this was because of a show I watched on Netflix called Atypical.
Atypical was placed on the Netflix platform on August 11, 2017. It follows the story of a teenager called Sam. Through this story we follow him breaking out of his shell and wanting to get into the romantic aspect of life while also discovering himself more, being independent, etc. I believe it’s a great show to watch if you ever come across it and want to enter the different pov of one’s life. Concerning Atypical, I wanted to quickly share the aspect of autism to assist in gaining a better understanding of the condition.
A few characteristics Google provided were delayed language skills, delayed movement skills, delayed cognitive or learning skills, impulsive/inattentive behavior, etc. Around 2.2% of all American adults have an autism spectrum disorder. Life with autism can be difficult as it can affect overall relationships, daily living, and opportunities. However, it is important to be understanding and treat everyone the same with respect disregarding whether they have a disorder or not. I believe organizations help a lot with showing moral support and educating. Some of the best organizations found on the internet are Autism Highway, Autism Navigator, Autism Research Institute, Autism Society, and plenty more.
In conclusion, Autism Awareness Month represents a daily reminder to understand and support individuals on the spectrum. There are many ways to get inclusive if you ever feel like taking it upon yourself to spread awareness like making your voice heard on social media or just in public areas.