Awareness? Acceptance? Appreciation.
In acknowledgement of World Autism Awareness Day 2025, Lizzie Smith, Neurodiverse Connection’s Communications Lead, explores what awareness, acceptance and appreciation of Autism would actually look like.
Intellectually, I do understand the point of awareness and acceptance days, weeks and months. I know that having designated periods of time to provide a platform for a specific cause can be useful. In my capacity as a Communications Professional, I have run awareness-raising campaigns and I know they have the potential to achieve far-reaching positive impacts across a varied audience. But how long for? Once the furore of the specific event at the designated time has passed, does anyone who was briefly aware and accepting continue to feel that way? I’m not sure.
I realise I’m over-simplifying this: I understand that awareness raising is a slow-burn sort of process. I know that effecting a shift in the zeitgeist takes time, energy, patience, effort, consistency, investment and (more) energy. However, when it comes to World Autism Awareness day (Wednesday 5th April 2025) and World Autism Acceptance month (April 2025), I am not feeling especially tolerant. These acceptance and awareness raising events can often be characterised by an over-proliferation of content that feels tokenistic, without proper attention paid to genuine lived experiences: as a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, my experience of the world is not one that feels very aware or accepting. In light of this ongoing experience, I’ve put together a list of what true awareness and acceptance might look like, from my perspective.
If the world was ‘aware’ of autism…
It would be common knowledge that Autistic characteristics vary from person to person in the same way that any other characteristics do. Have you ever met someone who is identical to you, in every single way? I doubt it. In much the same way, no two Autistic people are the same. For those in the know, the adage “if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person” rings particularly true here
People would know that someone cannot ‘look’ autistic. In the community of Neurodivergent people, especially those who are late-identified, being told “but you don’t look autistic” is an oft-reported phenomenon. However, it may surprise others to learn that there is not an Autistic uniform and we do not all have matching badges. We do not all ‘look’ a certain way. Collectively, we are extremely varied. Autism traverses class, culture and creed. And gender. And race. It is really very inclusive
Accusations of an increase in Autism diagnoses being a ‘trend’ would simply not happen. Speaking from my own personal experience, realising I am Autistic was a life-changing, earth-shattering, seismic shift that brought joy and validation and grief and rage. It is a deeply personal experience to feel seen for who you truly are but it is not without its difficulties. It is not bad or good, it is just me. To suggest that this is some kind of fad is, quite simply, offensive
If the world was ‘accepting’ of autism…
I would not be expected to make eye contact whilst I’m talking to someone. I’m not being rude, I simply can not tolerate the intensity of looking into someone’s eyes or at their face whilst also being expected to listen to what they’re saying. I can not HEAR what someone is saying, if I am required to LOOK at them. Other people don’t need to understand, but they can accept it. Please don’t make me explain or justify myself, thank you
Walking into a supermarket still wearing my sunglasses would be perfectly acceptable. No, I am not a vampire, I am not a diva and I am not hungover. These lights are offensively bright and the colour temperature is wrong and it makes me feel queasy. The lights combined with the smell of the fish counter and the bakery and other people’s perfume and the beeping checkouts have previously resulted in me walking in and then promptly back out again
There would be greater provision for the support and inclusion of Autistic people with a variety of support needs, non-speaking Autistic people and Autistic people navigating multiple intersections. There is not one, single way of accepting Autism. Acceptance should be an all-encompassing, consideration of and compassion for the rights of all Autistic people
My final thoughts on awareness and acceptance of Autism come directly from the word neurodiversity. Whilst its origin is often debated and somewhat contentious, the word itself affords the opportunity to make the comparison to biodiversity. Biodiversity, meaning a diversity of plant and animal life, is regarded as a positive in any given environment. Similarly, neurodiversity, meaning a diversity of neurologies, should also be regarded as a positive in any given environment. With this in mind, I wonder if Autism awareness and Autism acceptance should also reach to encompass Autism appreciation too.
Please note - I am sharing these thoughts with the caveat that I am just one autistic woman, sitting in front of a laptop, asking the world to be better. These are not universal Autistic experiences nor would I ever try to speak on behalf of all Neurodivergent people. However, I am always eager to learn about what a better world looks like for other Neurodivergent people, so please, do tell!
