People who have the neurodevelopmental condition of autism experience unique and special ways of interacting with the world around them. As a spectrum, this condition can manifest itself in a wide variety of ways, often through communication, social skills, ways of learning, and differences in behavior.
Autistics Speaking Day aims to promote and celebrate the important voice and perspective that people with autism have!
History of Autistics Speaking Day
Autistics Speaking Day was founded in 2010 by the people of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to give a voice to those who have autism.
Allowing autistic people to share their stories, advocate for themselves, and communicate about autism in a meaningful way, this event provides the opportunity to challenge the negative stereotypes that often surround autism.
How to Celebrate Autistics Speaking Day
Whether someone has autism themselves or is part of the community with a desire to support people with autism, Autistics Speaking Day invites everyone to show up and explore exciting ways to participate with this event.
Check out some of these ideas for getting involved:
Advocate for Autism
One of the ways people with autism are invited to participate in Autistics Speaking Day is to use their voice as a form of self-advocacy as well as for others who may not be able to speak for themselves.
Make a social media post or arrange to speak at a local school or another event to encourage young people with autism they can use their voices as well.
Get Creative with Speaking Out
People with autism can write a story, craft a poem, paint a picture, create a sculpture or use some other creative and artistic medium to get involved with Autistics Speaking Day.
Take advantage of the opportunity and use this day as a platform to inform the world about the unique experiences of an autistic person!
Remember Some Important Dates for Autism
One excellent way to get involved with Autistics Speaking Out Day might be to take a look at some of the ways that the understanding and support for autism have improved over the years.
Consider and then perhaps share with others some of these monumental dates that have helped move autism advocacy in the right direction:
- 1908 is the year that the term “autism” was first used
- 1944 is notable when Hans Asperger describes a milder form of autism named Asperger’s Syndrome
- 1991 brings the US government’s classification for autism as a category of special education and begins providing services to autistic children in schools
- 2013 reveals autism as a spectrum through the work of the American Psychiatric Association
Several other days are celebrated throughout the year with a similar theme, such as World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, Adult Autism Awareness Day on April 18, and Autistic Pride Day on June 18.