Over the past 50 years, autism awareness campaigns have focused on educating the general public with facts and figures, like the incidence of diagnosis climbing from 1:10,000 in the 1990’s to 1:36 in 2025.

And that autism has historically been diagnosed 4:1 in boys compared to girls, although we now know that autism has been under-diagnosed in females.

I’d say that most people I talk with are now aware that there are autistic people, and that there is an autism spectrum. But awareness alone doesn’t change lives!

Autism facts have helped to push for more public funding, and to destigmatize neuro-differences. But just knowing about something is a passive experience. It doesn’t necessarily change our behavior.

Jim Rohn the legendary American entrepreneur and motivational speaker summarized it this way to his students:

“Don’t let your learning lead only to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action.”

Different Not Less

Everybody likes a night at the movies…with Dolby surround sound and a bag of popcorn, and big comfy seats…. except if the sound is too loud and hurts your ears… and not if the darkness scares you… or if the popcorn smell irritates your whole body.

That’s right! While most of us are “aware” of the autism statistics, most of us are not equally aware of the many barriers that still exist in our cities and communities that get in the way of autistic individuals who have different sensory processing, who communicate differently, and who may need a range of supports to participate in everyday activities.

So, in 2007 AMC movie theatres took action! They partnered with the Autism Society to pioneer what they call sensory-friendly movie showings where, as they say on their website, they “turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing!”

In other words, AMC theatres, followed by Cineplex and others, took a number of action steps to adjust the theatre environment so that autistic children and adults could enjoy big screen movies too!

Neurodivergent brains and bodies are different and sometimes require different adjustments in

environments and in our behavior for them to not only feel welcome but to participate, fully, to be

included.

Some people like chocolate cake and some prefer vanilla. Some people like loud movies and some prefer softer sound.

The world’s most famous autistic adult, Dr. Temple Grandin has often reminded people “I am different, not less.”

Acceptance to Action

Autism is not a “processing error” it’s a different operating system.

Action means shifting from trying to “fix” the person to adapting the environment and to

changing our limiting beliefs and judgements.

Over the past decade, the Autism Society of America and all of the autism advocacy organizations have changed their campaigns from Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance. The emphasis is on truly embracing the fact that all humans are somewhere on an infinitely broad spectrum of neurodivergence.

Every single one of us is different from each other. And the sooner we stop judging these differences, the sooner we can create inclusive classrooms and offices and living rooms where accommodations are built right into the design from the beginning.

Several years ago, I was invited to observe a grade two class at a school where the teachers were actively building an inclusive culture. I was there to observe one little autistic kiddo in particular, but something was different than other classrooms I visit. It was hard for me to pick out which students were in quotes “special needs”.

The student I was there to observe had auditory sensitivity. She would frequently cover her ears with both her hands when a sound was not tolerable for her nervous system. When the fans of the school air conditioning system turned on, she would cover her ears. When her peers sang the morning song together, she would cover her ears. So her teacher provided noise reducing earphones - like earmuffs – on a low-placed hook where the young student could serve herself whenever she chose. This was an example of shifting acceptance into action – a tangible action that made the classroom more inclusive of this student’s differences.

So why was it hard for me to pick out the special needs children? Because, this wise and forward-thinking teacher not only provided noise reducing headphones for the autistic student, but made 10 more pairs of headsets available for any student, regardless of diagnosis or label, so that any student who wanted to have less noise stimulation could use them. And use them they did! As I sat in the back of the class, I counted 6 students wearing the headsets. Happily reading books and writing in their journals.

There is a saying in special education – that special education is just good education.

This week, I invite you to AIM your autism awareness and acceptance to more autism action!

Three action ideas are:

1. First, to LISTEN: prioritize listening more to autistic voices. Stop assuming what someone needs and instead, ask them (or observe their preferred way of doing things).

2. Second, adapt environments. Commit today to making one modification in your home or workplace that will make it more inclusive of neurodivergent family and friends.

3. And third, acknowledge people and organization, like the wise inclusive teacher, who you see who are making a conscious effort to help autistic people have more best days.

And if you want to give a shout out and thank someone who you see is making a

difference, visit the ThriveGuide “Best Days Heroes" page where you can send them a downloadable certificate of recognition or send them a digital Thankyou Gram video - it’s free, so take one minute now to think of someone you could celebrate.

As always, if you haven’t already, please subscribe to the AIM audiocast on Spotify and leave your comments and thoughts.

And remember “Awareness is the baseline, not the finish line!”