April is Autism Acceptance Month!

Because misinformation about autism still proves a barrier, awareness is still critical in the pursuit of greater autism acceptance. Let's debunk some myths about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ❌MYTH: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a mental illness. ✅FACT: ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts how the brain processes information and interacts with the world. ❌MYTH: Folks on the spectrum prefer "differently abled". ✅FACT: Although some people with ASD don't think of themselves as disabled, others find their autism symptoms disabling, and prefer "disabled" as a validating and accurate identifier. It can be helpful to ask the individual how they identify and which language they prefer. ❌MYTH: Autism exists on a spectrum from "high to low functioning." ✅FACT: Autism manifests as a variety of presentations and symptoms that vary from person to person. The autism spectrum is diverse and nonlinear. ❌MYTH: Asperger's Syndrome is a distinct diagnosis different from autism spectrum disorder. ✅FACT: Asperger's is no longer considered a disorder It was removed from the DSM in 2013 due to a lack of research showing a reliable and clear distinction from autism spectrum disorder. ❌MYTH: People with autism aren't sociable. ✅FACT: Being on the autism spectrum has nothing to do with one's desire for, or ability to create, strong and meaningful social connections. 💡Did you know...? Research has increasingly demonstrated that autistic folks often communicate well among each other, compared to when communicating with non-autistic folks, as suggested by scholarly articles like this one: https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/149282333/1362361320919286.pdf These studies undermine previous notions of communication “deficits” as a key feature of autism. ❌MYTH: People with autism aren't as smart--or the opposite--are exceptionally intelligent. ✅FACT: Autism is not inherently linked to intelligence, and folks on the spectrum can have a range of intellectual abilities not necessarily connected to their ASD diagnosis. 💡Did you know...? People who are intellectually gifted and have a developmental disorder such as autism are considered "twice exceptional". They often face unique challenges in learning spaces, as their strengths can mask their symptoms, create a mismatch in their learning development, and lead to feelings of being misunderstood or not quite fitting in. ❌MYTH: Only boys and children have autism. ✅FACT: Autism is a lifelong disorder that is commonly seen in girls and women as well. Women are often under- and misdiagnosed due to differences in symptom presentation and this harmful myth. 💡Did you know...? People of color and low-income individuals also face disparities in accurate ASD diagnosis. Read more about that here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8500365/pdf/jdbp-42-682.pdf