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Understanding Autism Resources: Insights, Information, and Support
Autism is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals uniquely, shaping how they experience and interact with the world. Gaining a deeper understanding of autism is the first step toward building empathy, fostering inclusion, and providing effective support. This resource collection is dedicated to exploring the fundamentals of autism. Whether you’re a loved one of an autistic adult, an educator, a therapist, or simply someone looking to learn more, these articles offer valuable insights and perspectives to help you better understand autism and its impact on individuals.
Recent Articles
Embracing Autism Acceptance Month: Moving Beyond Awareness to Inclusion and Understanding
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to champion autistic voices and to embrace the strengths and diversity of the autistic community.
Originally, Autism Acceptance Month was known as Autism Awareness Month. It was first conceived by psychologist Dr. Bernard Rimland in 1970, and then officially designated as a national awareness month in April, 1988.
In 2011, however, the Autism Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), in collaboration with the autistic community, began commemorating Autism Acceptance Month instead of Autism Awareness Month. Autism Awareness Month focused more on the condition’s deficits, or even as something to be “fixed,” but Autism Acceptance Month proudly emphasized autism as an identity.
As someone with an autistic daughter, I’ve seen the benefits of an “acceptance” approach firsthand, rather than approaches that minimize her neurodivergent traits. She thrives in inclusive environments where her self-stimulatory behavior (or “stimming”) is welcomed.
“Acceptance shifts the default from ‘the autistic person should adapt’ to ‘the people and systems around them share the work of making life accessible,’” explains Marie Masse, who was diagnosed with autism at age 36.
This article will cover what Autism Acceptance Month is and provide clarity around why it was changed from Autism Awareness Month. We’ll also delve into, with the help of several autistic voices, what acceptance actually means in daily life, and how to embrace and encourage real inclusion every month of the year.
Can Autism Be Cured? Why Acceptance Matters More
Autism is a natural variation in human neurodevelopment. Those on the autism spectrum often have unique ways of thinking, learning and interacting with the world. Autistic peoples’ brains are essentially wired differently––and many people want to find the cause of these differences and remove them. In fact, most money going toward autism research is going toward researching the treatment and prevention of autism.
However, studying the causes of autism with the intention of curing it is a controversial topic. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that cannot––and many argue, should not––be “cured.”
Understanding Adult Autism Statistics: What the Numbers Can (and Can't) Tell Us
Autism has gained much attention and coverage in the news recently, including reports of “rising rates” of the neurodevelopmental condition. This has caused noticeable public confusion and undue alarm about autism and what’s behind the supposed increase in diagnoses.
What’s essential to clarify is that there isn’t necessarily a sudden increase in the number of autistic people, but rather that a growing understanding of the neurotype is leading to more people getting diagnosed. And this is a good thing.
It’s also important to note that vaccination has nothing to do with the increase in autism diagnoses, as numerous studies have confirmed.
“What we mean by ‘autism’ has been evolving pretty fast in the last 30 years,” says Rachel Loftin, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer at Prosper Health. “Data from 1992 on autistic people may not fit who is autistic in 2026. Our definition has changed, more people are available to evaluate and diagnose, and the stigma has largely shifted, leading to more people seeking evaluation.”
There are a lot of autism statistics and facts out there, but they don’t all say the same thing. We also need to remember that new research is always coming out, and numbers are evolving in real time. That said, this article will walk you through what the most current numbers say, why they look the way they do, and what they mean for autistic adults.
