April is Autism Acceptance Month

GREEN BAY, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – April is Autism Acceptance Month. Many organizations work to provide awareness and more importantly, acceptance, for those with autism throughout April.

Acceptance over awareness

Katie Hess, Executive Director of the Autism Society for Greater Wisconsin says the focus for Autism Acceptance Month has switched from awareness to acceptance for a reason.

“So many people are aware of autism. They’ve heard the word at least before. They have a general understanding of what it means. So now what we are trying to do is move our communities towards acceptance,” said Hess. “It’s really teaching the public how to interact with people with autism and recognize people with autism. So they have a more sense of belonging into the community.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines autism spectrum disorder as a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. They say people with autism often have problems with social communication and interaction. They also have different ways of paying attention, learning, and even moving.

Hess said that taking a moment to be patient, kind, understanding, and calm can do a lot toward helping a person with autism connect and work within society.

“In a very broad sense, autism is a developmental condition. It typically gets diagnosed or recognized in children,” said Hess. “It impacts their social skills, their ability to form relationships, to self-regulate, things like that. But it impacts everyone a little bit differently.”

According to the CDC, 1 in 36 children in the United States are identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They go on to say that 2.2% of adults have ASD.

The Autism Society for Greater Wisconsin

The Autism Society for Greater Wisconsin is a non-profit dedicated to providing the support, resources, guidance, and community that families and persons with autism need. According to them, an autism diagnosis usually starts with the family healthcare provider and then progresses to testing. 

Hess says that while the diagnosis can be overwhelming at first, her organization is there to help. 

“It impacts everyone a little bit differently. And so it’s important for them (persons or families affected by autism) to have other people that they can talk to. And say this is what we’re recognizing. Are you recognizing the same types of things? What services and supports are available,” said Hess.

Hess said while children with autism need support, resources, and guidance, the journey with the condition never stops. Autism is a lifelong condition. Adults with autism may present differently.

“We look at adults, and we think like neurotypical adults. This is just a little bit different,” said Hess. “The way that they (adults with autism) function might be slightly different than what you may see in a neurotypical person.”

For more information on autism, Autism Acceptance Month, the available resources, or ways you can be involved with the many support groups for families, adults, or children with autism, please visit the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin website.