<aside> 🌈 So, you are kind enough to educate yourself on the topic of autism! Well look no further! I have compiled a list of resources for you to learn more about autism & how to be a better ally to autistics below ^^

</aside>

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

According to the CDC, ASD is a “developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.” It’s important to remember that if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve only met one autistic person (don’t try to box us in to what you think all autistics are like based on meeting only one autistic). Just like everyone else, we are all different and have different experiences, interests, personalities, etc.

Helpful & Informative Articles You Should Read

The Art of Masking: Autistic Women who Mask

Why Autistic People are Using #ActuallyAutistic on Social Media

[Autism Masking: To Blend or Not to Blend](https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/autism-masking#:~:text=Masking is a complex and,feel won't be accepted.)

“Autistic While Black”: How Autism Amplifies Stereotypes

We Don’t Need a Cure for Autism. We Need to Make Living With It Easier

Why the Focus of Autism Research is Shifting Away from Searching for a “Cure”

Why Don’t Autistics Want a Cure for Autism?

15 Things to Never Say to An Autistic

Autism — It’s Different in Girls

For Black Women and Girls Who Aren’t “Autistic Enough”

5 Autistic People Share the Myths About Autism That Hurt the Community

5 Practical Ways to Embrace Autism in April

Autism Resources A-Z For Acceptance and Understanding

Good Autistic Advocacy Organizations vs. Bad Autism “Charities”

FAQ & Things You May Be Curious About

• What is masking? (Why are some people not apparently autistic?)
• Why is Autism Speaks bad?
• What is all the hype about identity vs person first language?
• Why the term “disabled” isn’t harmful but “differently-abled” is?
• Why is ABA harmful?
• Why are functioning labels harmful and why does the autistic community (as well as clinicians) view Asperger’s Syndrome as an outdated term?
• What is the neurodiversity movement?
• Why do autistic people often have so many comorbidities (regarding mental illnesses)?
• Why do autistic people wear headphones all the time, rock back and forth, and or make noises?
• Why is self diagnosis seen as valid within the autistic community (especially compared to other conditions)?
• What is an AAC?
• What is a special interest and how does it differ from from regular (neurotypical) interests?
• Do autistic people have empathy?

Kind/Helpful Questions & Responses

Note: All of these responses are rooted in a desire to learn more (respectfully not ignorantly/passively) and to educate oneself on a topic they might not know about or want to know more about. They are open-ended statements/questions that avoid close-minded thinking. They are not rude in nature, and the open up a healthy conversation that benefits both parties.

• What can I do (to help accommodate you)?
  • Not only does this refrain from invalidating someone’s experiences by questioning their identity and diagnosis, but it also shows that you are willing to support the other person regardless of their struggles!
• I’m so glad you were able to learn more about yourself and your needs!
• Cool I’ll keep that in mind :)

Rude/Insensitive Questions & Responses

Note: The main characteristics of these comments are that they’re rooted in ignorance or stereotypes. They are asked with the conscious or unconscious thinking of “I know more than you. I know more about you than you do of yourself based on my own stereotypical thinking. My personal experience of knowing one particular autistic person and assumption of you solely based on meeting one autistic person is more valid than your diagnosis and feelings. Et cetera.” Or they are worded in an inappropriate, rude manner.

• Are you actually autistic?? or You can’t be autistic. You’re not like ______ who I know (aka you don’t fit this inaccurate/harmful stereotype I’ve held my entire life)...
• Everyone’s “a little autistic” or But I struggle with x, y, z too.
• I’m so sorry. You seem so normal! or You seem so high functioning! or But you’re so ____
• Okay, well don’t let it define you...

Helpful Organizations to Support

Note: The main thing that makes a good/supportive organization is if it prioritizes autistic voices (or, even better, is led by autistics themselves), and promotes the wellness and early diagnosis of autistics instead of a cure so that those who are autistic can grow up with the proper resources to thrive in the best way possible.

• Autism Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
  • Nothing About Us Without Us
  • don’t “light it up blue” - red instead
  • use the infinity symbol in gold or rainbow instead of the puzzle piece to represent solidarity with autistics
• Autistic Women & Non-Binary Network (AWN)
• Autistics for Autistics (A4A Ontario)
• NeuroClastic
• Communication First
• Autism Network International
• [Yellow Ladybugs](https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/#:~:text=Yellow Ladybugs is an autistic,autistic girls and women1 .)

Good Autistic Advocacy Organizations vs. Bad Autism "Charities"

Harmful Organizations NOT to Support

Note: The following organizations and/or symbols are harmful due to their promotion ableism, eugenics, pseudoscientific and false claims for “treating/curing/preventing” autism with diets, CBD, essential oils, anti-vaccination campaigning, and ABA therapy, in addition to the total failure to involve autistic people in their organization (only focused on allistics and not actually helping autistics)

• Autism Speaks
  • Puzzle piece symbol
  • Blue puzzle piece symbol
• NEXT for Autism
• Pathfinders for Autism
• The Autism Community in Action (formerly “Talk About Curing Autism”)
• The Autism Research Institute
• SPARK for Autism
• American Autism Association
• Autism Hope Alliance
• AutismOne
• Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (formerly “Defeat Autism Now!”)
• Autism Science Foundation and much more

What Can You Do?

To conclude, what can you do as a neurotypical or allistic individual to help support autistics?

Credit: derived from IG posts by @stimmy_autie and @livedexperienceeducator

• Don’t support Autism Speaks, the puzzle piece symbol, or light it up blue campaign
  • Light it up red instead or gold, use the infinity symbol, and support autistic led organizations
• Inform yourself on the topic of autism; refrain from using functioning labels and (if necessary) use support needs instead (high support needs to low support needs)
• Listen to and amplify the voices of autistic people (through helpful social media posts, articles, etc from autistics), and do not speak over us
• Do not believe or contribute to the stereotypes of autistic people or autism in general
• Share resources made by actually autistic people about autism around you
• Respect all forms of communication (including AAC, sign language, and more) and listen to autistic people no matter what form of communication they use
• Don’t force eye contact and don’t stop stimming (unless it is physically harming the autistic person or someone else); in general, don’t forces us to mask our autistic traits
• Don’t mock us and don’t use autism (or the r-slur) as a means to degrade or insult someone
• Don’t correct an autistic person who uses identity-first language (autistic instead of “person with autism”), and ask autistic people you know which term they prefer or if they are indifferent. Make sure you respect the term that they prefer.
• And most importantly, keep doing this beyond just April! Autism acceptance shouldn’t stop after the month is over, we’re still here afterward!

Some Helpful Vocabulary

Credit to @myautisticsoul (some omitted for brevity & clarity)

• Ableism

• Neurodivergent

• Neurotypical

• Allistic

• Spectrum

• Masking

• Neurodevelopmental Disorder

• Disability

• Autism as a Disability

• Co-occurence

• Autistic Burnout

• Synesthesia (common with ASD)

• Special Interest

• Stimming

• Echolalia

• Meltdown

• Shutdown

• Misophonia

• Nonverbal & Nonverbal Episode

• Same Food

• Sensory Avoidant

• Sensory Seeking

• Overstimulation

• Understimulation

Created by u/Additional-Cookie-75 & u/andiiiieee