This April, our school joins the global community in celebrating Autism Acceptance and Awareness Month! It's a time to recognize and appreciate the unique strengths, perspectives, and contributions of autistic individuals within our school and beyond. We are grateful to have a support network of educators, caregivers, and students who work to include and support students across differences across our school community.
Beyond Awareness, Towards Acceptance:
While awareness is important, we're focusing on acceptance. Acceptance means understanding that autism is a natural variation of the human brain, not a deficit. It means valuing neurodiversity and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and celebrated for who they are.
What Does Acceptance Look Like?
- Understanding: Learning about autism from autistic voices and recognizing the spectrum of experiences.
- Respect: Honoring individual differences and communication styles.
- Inclusion: Creating accessible and supportive spaces for all students. Shout out to our SPED and Para Team for making inclusion possible at PAS!
- Celebration: Recognizing the unique talents and perspectives that autistic individuals bring to our community.
- Advocacy: Speaking out against stigma and promoting positive change.
How Can You Participate?
- Educate Yourself: Check out resources from organizations like the Autism Society and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).
- Listen and Learn: Engage in conversations with autistic peers and learn about their experiences.
- Be an Ally: Challenge misconceptions and promote inclusion in your daily interactions.
- Attend School Events: Participate in school-organized events to promote autism acceptance. Thank you to the HSA speaker series, which has featured two sessions on neurodiversity this year!
- Spread Positivity: Share positive messages about autism on social media and in your community. Thank you to the first-grade team for creating posters across the school celebrating Autism Acceptance!
Our School's Commitment:
We are committed to creating a school environment where every student feels valued and supported. We will continue to work towards:
- Providing inclusive educational practices. Thanks to Ms. Ross and a generous donor, we recently added books featuring neurodiversity to every classroom and the library.
- Promoting understanding and acceptance among all students and staff.
- Creating safe and supportive spaces for autistic students.
Let's work together to build a school community that celebrates neurodiversity and embraces every individual's unique contributions. This April and every day, let's strive for acceptance, understanding, and inclusion.
Resources:
SEL Resources: Neurodiversity
SEL resources featuring lessons on neurodiversity
Picture Books on Neurodiversity
Picture books with characters who are autistic
Autism Awareness Autism Speaks
Autism Resources AACAP
CDC Resources
