What is Autism Acceptance Month?
Happy Autism Acceptance Month 2025!
You may have heard of “Autism Awareness Month.” Since the 1970s, The Autism Society has celebrated the month of April as a time to recognize and advocate for the Autistic Community. However, in more recent years, thanks to advocates like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, it’s become clear that there is an imperative to move past mere awareness and embrace Autism Acceptance.
With more and more organizations, agencies, and individuals recognizing this shift in terminology every year, Autism Acceptance Month 2025 is being embraced by thousands of Americans across the US. As one of the the biggest supplier of behavioral support in Kentucky, local business Applied Behavioral Advancements LLC works with countless Kentuckians on the spectrum each year. In recognition of the incredible community they serve, ABA, LLC embraces the shift from Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance.
“I am so thankful that the (Autistic) community has changed the name from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month.” says ABA’s Executive Director, Chris George, “Autism is no longer an unknown diagnosis as there are individuals on the spectrum from every demographic of society.”
“I believe that everyone knows someone in their life who is on the spectrum.” continues Chris, “These personal relationships have helped to break down the stigma that was associated with autism decades ago. Knowing and loving someone with autism helps us to collectively have a shared experience of accepting each individual’s unique awesomeness and better understand how to support them.”
Who does Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Affect?
As our understanding of Autism changes, so does our understanding of who it affects. According to the CDC in a 2020 survey, Autism Spectrum Disorder was estimated to affect 1 in 36 children. This could be read as a stark increase, as numbers in 2000 were estimated to be closer to 1 in 150. However, we also now understand the Autism Spectrum itself in a new way. Rather than a linear spectrum of “least autistic” to “most autistic,” the term Autism Spectrum refers to a variable wheel of symptoms.
Each Autistic individual might experience specific symptoms on the wheel to different degrees, meaning each person’s wheel looks a little bit different. Rather than a mysterious diagnosis to be feared, we now understand Autism as just one of the many unique ways an individual might experience the world. While an individual may have more needs than another, the Autistic community has moved away from terms like “low functioning” and “high functioning.” Autism is not one size fits all, and it looks a little bit different on everybody. As for Chris, he holds the personal philosophy that “ We are all on the spectrum somewhere.”
How to Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month
Many organizations and agencies across the Bluegrass take special care during the month of April to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month 2025. To encourage families of all experiences to get out and engage with the Autistic community, ABA, LLC has compiled a calendar of events happening across the state of Kentucky that center around Autistic individuals and their families. You can find the calendar on ABA’s website at https://aba-llc.com/autism-acceptance-calendar-2025/
In addition, Chris encourages people to embrace Autism Acceptance year-round: “One of the simplest but most meaningful ways to promote Autism Acceptance Month 2025 in our local community is simply smiling and greeting individuals and families we cross paths with in our day to day lives. A quick, “Hi. How are you today?” works wonders to show acceptance and break the cycle of stares and turning away that many have faced all their lives.”
Since 2007, Applied Behavior Advancements has worked tirelessly to provide the highest quality behavior support to clients in Kentucky and beyond. Chris is proud to say that the agency embraces Autism Acceptance year round: “Clinically, our goal is to embrace the individual’s unique personality, interests, and skills and then help to teach new skills that will allow them to achieve their personal goals. ABA is also proud to collaborate with and donate to other non-profit organizations supporting and promoting Autism Acceptance.”