AUTISM ADVOCACY
people with autism will lead full lives able to inter-
act with the world on their own terms.”
People often display the ribbon in hopes of spark-
ing conversation about how autism affects them or
loved ones. Many people are happy to answer ques-
tions about autism and help people gain better un-
derstandings of what it is like to live with ASD.
Autism Awareness Merchandise
We buy gifts for family and friends throughout the
year: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and
more. Why not use this additional holiday opportu-
nity to purchase gifts that will spark discussion while
supporting autism awareness? The autism ribbon
or puzzle piece can be found on a variety of prod-
ucts ranging from wearables like jewelry or T-shirts
to bumper stickers and gifts. Amazon carries a wide
variety of autism awareness products and allows
shoppers to select their favorite autism awareness
nonprofit to receive donations as you shop through
AmazonSmile all year round.
Autism awareness merchandise can be found in
the full Autism Parenting Magazine guide: https://
www.autismparentingmagazine.com/promote-au-
tism-awareness/.
How to raise awareness in your
community
Raising awareness for autism can be a daunting task.
Many people don’t know where to begin or the most
effective ways to make their messages heard. Often,
intimate settings and meaningful conversations are
the ways to go. Other times, taking part in an event
to raise money for research or contacting your na-
tional and local representatives can be effective.
Having a conversation about autism
awareness
Having a conversation about autism and how it af-
fects you or your family can be an intimidating task.
This conversation may come up as a response to a
negative interaction or a misunderstanding sur-
rounding ASD, but that doesn’t always have to be the
case. You may choose to invite a small group of peo-
ple to your home to host an informal Q&A about au-
tism. This can be an excellent opportunity for people
to ask questions they may not have been previously
comfortable asking. It can also be a time for you to
explain person-first language and the many ways to
be inclusive of someone with ASD.
Join a community event
Many nonprofits will be hosting events for Autism
Awareness Month such as walks, sensory friendly films,
donation drives, or seminars held at universities. Not
only can these events provide a sense of community,
but they can bring awareness to resources available
locally. Becoming involved can be as easy as showing
up the day of, but some families choose to help or-
ganize the events, volunteer as guest speakers, man
booths, or donate supplies. Before you chose to do-
nate, be sure the nonprofit aligns with your goals for
autism awareness and is fiscally transparent. Charity
Navigator is an excellent resource for scoping out the
nonprofits most worthy of your support.
Contacting your representatives
Your local and national representatives are elected
to make sure your voice is heard. Calling, emailing,
or taking a meeting with your representative can
be a highly effective way of ensuring they know au-
tism awareness matters. It can be nerve-wracking to
speak to an elected official. To make sure you make
the most of your conversation, have a plan. Be clear
on what you want from your representative. Do you
want him/her to support a potential law being dis-
cussed? Do you want him/her to write or sponsor a
bill? Do you want him/her to become more informed
about autism? If possible, include your child in the
conversation.
Your voice matters
No matter how you support autism awareness this
April, your voice is important. Whether you choose
to sport autism awareness merchandise or take a
meeting with your representative, this month is the
time to rally together to bring awareness to autism.
Katherine G. Hobbs is a freelance journalist and uni-
versity student studying English, with an emphasis on
journalism, and psychology. She is interested in the im-
pact of having a special needs child on the family dy-
namic. Katherine is dedicated to bringing awareness of
resources to families and providing help to those who
love their children with autism. You can find her online
at katherineghobbs.com.
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 74 |
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