World Autism Acceptance Week

World Autism Acceptance Week is an annual event planned around Autism Acceptance Day on 2nd April each year, started in 2007 by the National Autistic Society to educate people about the autism spectrum condition. The society encourages everyone to get involved in fundraising to raise awareness and help to create a more inclusive society. Money raised goes towards campaigning work, diagnosis advice and employment support programmes.

Interestingly, the event was formerly called Autism Awareness Week but was renamed in 2021 as a better term for inclusion. This is a move away from education and more towards understanding, respect and accommodation within communities. The term awareness is often associated with negative connotations and disease. For example, we could say cancer awareness but not cancer acceptance. It suggests a problem to be solved and could provoke stereotypes. Acceptance is acknowledgement and removal of prejudice.

I am wondering whether we could go a step further and name it Autism Pride Week or whether this could actually alienate people?

Unfortunately, I found out about World Autism Acceptance Week by chance online. I have not heard of any local events or publicity. Whilst the condition does seem to be getting more exposure generally, it is still regarded as a characteristic held by a hidden, sometimes stigmatized section of society. In the future, it would be amazing if neurological differences in everyone were seen as normal and embraced, just like fingerprints.