Autism Acceptance Month: Myths, Language, and the Power of Self-Advocacy

In this episode of Everyday ABA, your favorite hosts Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny explore the shift from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month, highlighting why inclusion and understanding matter more than ever. They dive into the concept of neurodiversity and the impact of language in advocacy, discussing the ongoing debate between identity-first and person-first language. The hosts debunk common autism myths, including misconceptions about anti-social behavior, empathy, and parenting. They emphasize the importance of understanding invisible disabilities and challenge outdated theories that contribute to stigma. The conversation also covers parental concerns, the truth about vaccines and autism, and the role of research in promoting acceptance. Listeners will gain valuable insights into supporting self-advocacy within the autism community. Tune in to learn how to move beyond stereotypes and embrace a more nuanced understanding of autism.

 

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CEU Learning Objectives: 

• By the end of the episode, listeners will be able to describe the historical shift from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month, including reasons why the change was made and how it reflects the goals of the neurodiversity movement.
• After listening to the episode, listeners will be able to identify and correct common misconceptions about autism, including how the misconceptions have historically influenced clinical and educational practices.

 

References:

Autism Society of America. (2021). Why Autism Acceptance Month? https://autismsociety.org

Donvan, J., & Zucker, C. (2016). In a different key: The story of autism. Crown Publishers. 

Jones, R. A., & Mandell, D. S. (2022). Autism Acceptance Month—History and impact. Neurology Advisor. https://www.neurologyadvisor.com

Kapp, S. K., Gillespie-Lynch, K., Sherman, L. E., & Hutman, T. (2013). Deficit, difference, or both? Autism and neurodiversity. Developmental Psychology, 49(1), 59–71. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028353

McIntyre, L. L., & Zemantic, P. K. (2020). Parent training interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorder. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02973-7

Neely, L., Rispoli, M., Gerow, S., & Hong, E. (2016). Community support and involvement for individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A review of the literature. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(8), 2510–2523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2835-2

Sandbank, M., Bottema-Beutel, K., Crowley, S., Cassidy, M., Dunham, K., Feldman, J. I., & Woynaroski, T. G. (2020). Project AIM: Autism intervention meta-analysis for studies of young children. Psychological Bulletin, 146(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000215

Veenstra, A., Lamb, Y. N., & Hughes, D. A. (2022). Patient outcomes after applied behavior analysis for autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03651-5