PSA to our followers this Autism Acceptance Month:
Use Autism **Acceptance** Month (as opposed to Autism Awareness Month).
NO “light it up blue” or puzzle pieces. Google “Autism Speaks hate group” to learn more.
Use red or gold instead, which are colors supported by the autistic community.
Use identity-first language (most autistic people prefer “autistic” instead of “person with autism”), but don’t police the language of someone who prefers to be called a person with autism.
NO scare terms like “suffering with autism” or “afflicted with autism.”
Avoid functioning labels like “high functioning” or “low functioning.”
If autistic voices are not at the center of your efforts, you’re doing it wrong.
When in doubt, ASK AN AUTISTIC PERSON.
To learn more about autism, visit autistic-run organizations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Autism Women’s Network (AWN).
