April is an interesting month for many people, especially those who are Autistic/Neurodivergent. April is Autism Acceptance Month. It was formed by people who are autistic and wanted to help shift the narrative and erase the stigma of being Autistic, according to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. As to why it is better to say Autism Acceptance Month, instead of Autism Awareness month, the ASAN says, “Acceptance of autism as a natural condition in the human experience is necessary for real dialogue to occur.” Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects how we experience the world around us, and that we think, process, communicate, and socialize differently.
With Autism Acceptance Month coming up, I wanted to share my experience of being Autistic and being a Life Together fellow. Life Together has been a revolutionary experience for me. It has allowed me to truly discover more about myself and leave my comfort zone. I tend to struggle with social situations because of my autism. Thankfully, I found that my housemates deeply cared for me and that they almost feel like family to me. They have been very open and responsive to me whenever I share my needs, especially those that are related to my disability, and have helped me to find ways to meet those needs.
I also appreciate the resources that I have from Life Together. In our house, we have a lot of fidget toys that are great for when I need to stim (self-stimulatory behavior). I also enjoy the knowledge that I gain from our Prayer Partners and training sessions, which help me and others in my house find ways to connect. One training, in particular, was the Non-Violent Communication (NVC), which helped me understand needs and feelings, which is something I struggle with as an autistic person. I even helped lead a session talking about my experience with Autism and ways I struggle in social situations and it helped a lot with developing a greater relationship with my housemates, including resolving conflicts.
What I want to conclude is that being in Life Together has allowed me to fully open up and truly accept who I am. And so what can you do to help support Autism Acceptance Month? Let’s all be brave and proud of who we are, no matter what life hits at us. If I had a call to action for Autism Acceptance Month, a few things would be, first educate yourself about Autism and encourage others. If you know someone who is Autistic, try to get to know that person better and have a conversation. If you don’t know that, try to find blogs, books, YouTube channels, and social media pages of Autistic creators, the more the better. A few books to read are Neurotribes, We’re Not Broken, and On the Spectrum. A few Autistic YouTubers to watch are Autism from the Inside, The ThoughtSpot, and Mom on the Spectrum. Lastly, help amplify Autistic voices, and if you are on social media, use the #AcutallyAutistic hashtag to help find and spread Autistic voices.