Many autistic people prefer to call it “Autism Acceptance Month”: Awareness and acceptance are two very different things. You could be aware of autism, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to accept and understand it
Autism Speaks is hated by most autistic people: Ask most autistic people what they think of Autism Speaks, and they’ll tell you it’s awful. Autism Speaks seems intent on finding a cure, and is awful when it comes to their treatment of autistic people, treating autism like a monster that destroys families
Many autistic people don’t want a cure: Sure, there’s some that do, but there’s a lot that don’t. And they would prefer more understanding of autism than a cure for it
Don’t light it up blue, go #RedInstead: Lighting up blue is often associated with Autism Speaks, many autistic people would prefer you to light up red instead
If you’re a neurotypical relative, don’t make it all about yourself: So many “Autism Parents” out there make posts taking about how hard autism is for them, without seemingly giving much thought to their child, and they get angry when autistic people correct them. Yes, autism can be tough, but I can guarantee that it’s going to be a lot more difficult for them, especially if you refuse to understand and listen to us
Listen to autistic people: This one should be obvious, but so many people don’t do this. Sometimes autistic people get told they’re “not autistic enough” or “not that autistic” when they’re trying to talk about their own experiences. If you want to understand autism, we’re the best people to come to
Be careful about the autism information you share online, check the facts: Whilst Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month should be a good thing, many autistic people don’t like it because it’s also the chance for more misinformation and lies to be spread about autism. Don’t always believe what you read, check for evidence to prove the facts to be true
Since Autism Awareness Month is coming up, here’s what you should know
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