The Autism Society of America held its first National Autism Awareness Month in April 1970. The event, founded by psychologist and researcher Bernard Rimland, marked the start of increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism. This article looks at ways to embrace neurodiversity, focusing on the Four A’s of autism.

A Look at Neurodiversity and Its Origin

Neurodiversity is a term that explains the unique ways in which people’s brains work. When talking about neurodiverse people, we refer to individuals whose brain functions differently from other average people, with a special focus on autistic people who think, learn, and behave differently.

So, neurodiversity is based on the idea that differences in brain functioning are normal and neurodiverse individuals should not be stigmatized. The term neurodiversity was first used by an Australian singer, Judy Singer, in the 1990s.

Judy led a social movement to end the stigma of neurodiversity as a disability. According to statistics, 15 to 20 percent of the world’s population have some form of neurodiversity with various diagnoses, including dyspraxia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hyperlexia, dyspraxia, and Tourette syndrome (TS).

LGBTQ and All support efforts by the neurodiversity movement to increase acceptance for everyone and recognize that differences should not be corrected or changed. We provide resources to validate the experiences of these individuals to create an environment where everyone feels accepted rather than forced to fit into a different world.

The Four A’s in Autism: Embracing Autism Requires More than Awareness

To fully embrace autism, we should do more than just knowing and passive awareness. Remember, you can know about something and not do something about it.

Running awareness campaigns alone will not improve the lives of those living with autism. On the contrary, it can lead to the dissemination of information and outrageous perspectives that don’t consider the voice of the neurodiverse community.

So, in addition to staying up to date with the trends and current medical information on autism, we should engage in dialogues with the autistic community and change how we view them. It means going beyond the label to look at a person’s strengths and needs and what we can do to ensure equality for all.

Let’s look at the four A’s in autism: Awareness, acceptance, appreciation, and action.

Awareness

Awareness has been the focus of the autism community for the past 40+ years. During these years, people have been taught to recognize autism in schools and at home in the community. Even people with autism have become better aware of when they may be on the autism spectrum. This awareness has built the foundation for the other “As” in autism. Let’s look at the next A in autism: Acceptance.

Acceptance

Once you become aware of autism, the next step is to accept that the condition is there to stay. We’ve seen parents come to accept that there’s nothing they can do for their autistic children and learn how to live with these characteristics—learning how to work with learning differences and sensory characteristics. For example, if an autistic person is more visual, we can use picture exchange communication systems to help the individual learn.

Appreciation

In this step, autistic people are valued or appreciated for their positive contribution to society. The trends are more common in the workplace. For instance, IT companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft seek autistic individuals because they can understand and do IT things that other people cannot do. The same can apply to autistic individuals who are gifted in different areas of life like writing, folding laundry, arts, sports, etc., making them feel valued and appreciated.

Action

Without action, the first 3 As in autism, won’t matter much. Action is the glue that binds the 3 A’s together, ensuring that we empower autistic people to live a fruitful and productive life. As more and more people and organizations begin to appreciate autistic people, we expect more action to help autistic people become a better version of themselves instead of trying to change them into non-autistic people.

Ways to Show Appreciation and Acceptance for Neurodiverse People

• Research about neurodiversity to understand its importance and impact
• Talk with autistic people to understand their needs and concerns
• Have conversations with parents of autistic children
• Accommodate different perspectives and differences in thinking
• Offer autistic people opportunities for creativity and imagination
• Don’t make assumptions: let autistic people tell you what language, symbols, and terminology they prefer
• Engage with the autistic community to better understand their needs
• Change yourself, not an autistic individual or community

The Four A’s in Autism Key Takeaways

The worst thing you can do regarding the autistic community is do nothing. Don’t just be a bystander. Educate yourself on the needs of autistic people and the autistic community and share what you learn with others so that together, we can create a world that appreciates and values autistic individuals.

On our part, we will continue to offer mental health resources for autistic people and parents to ensure their wellbeing. If you want to connect with therapists and psychologists to help your autistic child or learn how to take care of them, check our list of reputable mental health professionals and choose one that works best for you.