The month of April is Autism Acceptance Month. Before, this was known as Autism Awareness Month. In 2020, the change was made from awareness to acceptance. There were many reasons for the change, but according to Autism Parenting Magazine, “Autistic people need not just awareness, but acceptance and inclusion in order to have true support from their communities.”

Another change with the month was the affiliated color blue, which was originally associated with autism because companies used it as a marketing benefit. The company, Autism Speaks, created a campaign to try to promote “curing” autism, when in reality that is not possible. Changing the color affiliation was another move supported by the autism community for the sake of ownership and empowerment.

The campaign was misleading and a miscommunication. The autism community wanted acceptance because they don’t have something wrong with them, they just learn and operate a little differently than someone who is neurotypical (which is somebody who does not have autism). Autism is completely different for every person.

Graphic courtesy Stella DeLong.

This is also similar to the change of the symbol for autism. Originally, the symbols were puzzle pieces. It has now been changed to a rainbow infinity sign. The puzzle piece was another aspect of autism that was manipulated by companies to make money and to try and show that autism is puzzling. The symbol is basically trying to make them “fit in” with the rest of the puzzle of the world.

The infinity sign is to show neurodiversity, and show that nothing is wrong with the autistic community. Autism is a huge spectrum. Every person with autism is different, and the infinity sign shows that inclusivity.

The autism community has to go through so much, and this month is to really shed light on the community and the things they have to go through. All of these changes were really to take back ownership, instead of people who don’t have autism making the decision, in hopes for people to really understand and start being more accepting.