It’s About to be Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Advocacy Month!

Time to Re-Frame April for All it Encompasses

To us, the month of April is not solely about one thing. Just like autism is a spectrum, so is our view of the month dedicated to it. It shouldn’t only concern awareness. It goes beyond acceptance. It’s not an either/or scenario; it’s all encompassing.

Instead, at Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, we choose to focus on awareness, acceptance and advocacy around autism spectrum disorder. This is why we are dubbing the month of April as A4 Month – Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Advocacy Month (AAAAM) – and we encourage others to do the same.

Yes, we know it’s a mouthful, but it’s an important one!

It’s time to ignite change for our kiddos, families and the autism community as a whole. To do this, it takes efforts from all facets:

Awareness:

Autism awareness has grown leaps and bounds over the years, yet there is still work to be done. Many people have yet to learn the signs of autism and the challenges individuals with ASD face. Early interventions offer the best chance these children have to thrive, but they can’t occur without early identification, so deeper awareness and education around autism needs to remain a focus.

Acceptance:

One in 44 children in this country is diagnosed with autism. Nearly everyone is touched by autism in some way. The acceptance of individuals with autism (and their families) in every part of society is overdue. This acknowledgement and inclusion is not only beneficial to them, but to everyone, as neurodiversity makes the world a better place. Let’s break down the barriers and foster inclusivity by opening our worlds to include the support, services and opportunities they deserve.

Advocacy:

Awareness and acceptance are the first steps, but our loved ones deserve more than that, too. They need advocates; sidekicks who are with them for the long-haul to elevate them like the superheroes they are. They are counting on others to listen and learn, as well as help them share their voices in whatever way works best for them. They need individuals and organizations to have their backs through research, clinical advancements and policy with them in mind.

This may be a shift in language, but not in our thinking. For more than 15 years, our Hopebridge team has been here not only to accept and support the autism community, but we remain here to lift these amazing kiddos up so they can reach their fullest potentials.

We want to see these children shine. We invite you to join us during A4 Month as we continue our work to watch them do exactly that, all while celebrating everything that makes them uniquely wonderful.

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