From Awareness to Acceptance: A Change in Perspective

By Christine Larsen, MS, LBS, Behavioral Health Manager

April is Autism Acceptance Month, formerly known as AutismAwareness Month. This shift in language reflects self-advocacy efforts from Autistic people who ask to be included in conversations about policies that impact them. “Awareness” can stigmatize Autism and paint it as a problem to solve, whereas “acceptance” is the term preferred by Autistic people, as it connotes making space for neurodiversity in all aspects of society. Check out the links below to learn more aboutrecent research and policies that include input from the Autistic community.

‍Identity-first language is now known to be preferred bymany Autistic people (ie saying “Autistic person” rather than “person with Autism”)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36237135/

‍A.J. Drexel Autism Institute receives funding tocollaborate with Autistic people on evaluating the use of Applied BehaviorAnalysis

https://drexel.edu/autisminstitute/news-events/news/2025/April/drexel-university-autism-community-funding/

ODP issues Plain Language bulletin to increaseaccessibility

https://paproviders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Communication-Bulletin-Plain-Language-Version.pdf

‍