This April is international Autism Acceptance month!
We want to take the opportunity to shine a light on some amazing different resources out there that center autistic voices, and celebrate the strengths of autistic people. It’s estimated that up to 1 in 70 Australians are autistic, including a heap of our awesome community members - there’s a lot of misconceptions out there about autism, so hopefully this is useful for people to read!
What is autism/ ASD (autism spectrum disorder)?
Autism is a lifelong, neurodevelopmental disorder, which affects the way that people experience the world, communicate, and interact with other people. Every autistic person is different, with their own unique strengths and abilities- and hearing from people who are autistic is a great way to understand more about autism.
Here’s two fantastic videos from autistic adults which I found especially powerful :
From Amythest Schaber, "Ask An Autistic: What Is Autism?"
Dr Jac den Houting, their 2019 TEDx talk, "Why Everything You Know About Autism Is Wrong"
We’d love to hear from you if you have any other videos or resources you’d like to share!
If you want to learn more about autism, we’ve pulled together a list of resources here:
(Image by Anne Belle/www.redbubble.com/people/AutisticAnne].
Podcasts:
"a different brilliant®": is an Aspect podcast made for autistic adults and parents or carers of kids on the autism spectrum. Host Orion Kelly, who is autistic, highlights the strengths, interests and aspirations of the autistic community.
The yellow ladybugs podcast: “The Yellow Ladybugs Podcast invites #actuallyautistic people to talk about their journey, to help you with yours. Join in the conversation, as we explore the world of autistic girls, women and gender diverse individuals, and the often misunderstood and ignored internalised autistic experience
Organisations:
Autism Spectrum Australia: Australia’s largest service provider for people on the autism spectrum, “understanding, engaging & celebrating the strangths, intersts & aspiratoins of people on the autism spectrum”
I Can Network: Australia’s largest provider of Autistic- led group mentoring programs, training and consultancy.
Reframing Autism: an autistic-run organisation with this vision: Our vision is a world in which the Autistic community is supported by its families and allies to achieve genuine acceptance, inclusion, and active citizenship, and in which Autistic culture and identity is celebrated and nurtured.
At Reframing Autism, we want to change the narrative to fit a strengths-based neurodiversity view. Ultimately, our goal is to improve long-term Autistic mental health and wellbeing for both our current and future generations.
Autism awareness Australia: an organisation that aims to “to improve the lives of all Australians on the autism spectrum and the families who love them.”
We’d also love to hear from you!
What do you know about autism?
If you are autistic - what is your favourite thing about autism?
Is there anything you wish people knew about being autistic?
