Autism Acceptance Month - Dillan's Voice

[LiberalArkie]

Published on Apr 2, 2016
Autism Acceptance Month is dedicated to the stories of people like Dillan. His words remind us how important it is to ensure everyone with a voice can be heard.

Autism Acceptance Month - Dillan's Path

Published on Apr 2, 2016
Autism Acceptance Month acknowledges that every autistic person’s path is unique. For Dillan, the dedication of his loved ones, years of hard work and his iPad made a big difference in how he connects with others. Hear Dillan, his mother and his therapist / communication partner share that journey.

[proverbialwisdom]

1. Video produced and posted on YouTube by APPLE with 91,338 views already!

MORE: http://www.autismacceptancemonth.com/

http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2016/04/autism-acceptance-day-and-month-2016-at.html

Saturday, April 2, 2016
Autism Acceptance Day and Month 2016 at TPGA

By Shannon Des Roches Rosa

It's World Autism Acceptance Day, which kicks off World Autism Acceptance month. Those are not usually exciting statements for us -- historically April overwhelmingly generates pity-based "autism awareness" campaigns, but we're seeing a lot more positivity and autism acceptance this year. More acceptance is fabulous, and very welcome.

Acceptance rather than mere awareness is being honored at non-autistic-centric places as diverse and cool as the United Nations, where NeuroTribes author Steve Silberman gave the #WAAD16 opening keynote; most successful company in the world Apple, which produced an Autism Acceptance video (link above) featuring a non-speaking autistic teen successfully using AAC to communicate at home, and at a regular high school; and feminist nerdgasm site The Mary Sue, featuring autistic writer Nova Mona's essay Autism Doesn’t Make Me Blue: How to Support Autistic People This April .

Why the focus on acceptance rather than awareness? As I wrote at BlogHer: (Please see link.)

http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/2016/events.shtml
http://www.themarysue.com/autism-awareness-month/

[proverbialwisdom]

2. Another voice and narrative, noncompeting, but different.

http://www.ageofautism.com/2016/04/6-more-ways-to-help-during-autism-action-month.html#more

6 More Ways to Help During Autism ACTION Month

By Cathy Jameson

I appreciate it when people recognize how much work it takes for me to care for son. Ronan is 13 years old and has non-verbal regressive autism. He needs 24/7 care. From diapering to redirecting to reducing behaviors to managing his medical issues, including seizures, it’s more than a full-time job for me. Some friends see that but they don’t always know how to pitch in. That’s okay. Some days it’s daunting even for me to think about everything that needs to be done let alone plan and implement and hope that everything goes smoothly! There’s more than enough to do to keep Ronan happy, healthy, and safe though, so when someone expresses that they want to help my family, I humbly and gladly take it.

When I’m asked, “Cathy, what can I do to help your family?” I share a few ideas from this list. Posted two years ago, there are tons of ideas to choose: 30 Days of Autism Action Ideas. Even though there are plenty of ideas on that list, I thought I’d expand on a few of them this year:

1 – I think that many parents appreciate being able to take a break every now and then, but parents of a child with autism may not be able to. If their child wanders or elopes, that parent cannot take their eyes off their child. If their child is non-verbal or non-communicative, the parent may not want to leave their child in the care of someone else, especially if it’s a new person. If a parent is able to take a break, it may be because the person they’ve entrusted their child to is a reliable family, friend, or a hired caregiver. If you’d like to offer to be that family’s reliable help, learn what needs to be done and offer to be that person. Even if it’s coming over a few minutes at a time, learn the routine. Learn the stims. Learn the triggers. Learn the signs if the child uses sign language or become familiar with the communication device if they use that. Learn how to help, and do just that. If it’s too much to handle, because some of the care the child requires just might be, don’t give up on helping. Find another way to be there for the family.

2 – I have very kind-hearted friends who tell me after they’ve made a donation to an autism organization and that they’ve donated it in Ronan’s name. Donations are great! But some organizations don’t give back to individuals in need. Learning that the money won’t go back into the community or to a family affected by autism can be disappointing. So, before you give away your hard-earned money, ask the family where they think a donation will be best served and consider following the family’s request.

Continue reading "6 More Ways to Help During Autism ACTION Month" »

Previously: http://www.ageofautism.com/2014/04/april-30-days-of-autism-action-ideas-to-help-friends-family.html