We’re Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month!

April is Autism Acceptance Month, which is very special to us as we support many clients who are on the Autistic spectrum. Previously known as Autism Awareness Month, the change in name was recently adopted to tackle perceptions of Autism as an ‘illness’ which limits individuals and focus on accepting and embracing the unique abilities and perspectives of those with autism instead!

We want to take this opportunity to highlight why autism acceptance and awareness are so important. There are lots of misconceptions surrounding what it means to be Autistic, and what Autistic people look like. Many people assume that those with autism are unable to live independently- which is untrue! Lots of Autistic people live independent lives, and lots more would be able to with a better understanding from society of what autism is. Our Autistic Clients live happy and fulfilled lifestyles just like neurotypical people do. With a helping hand from our brilliant Support Workers, Clients can access their communities, complete everyday tasks and take part in social activities. We hope that all our Clients can feel included when they’re out in the world, so that they can live their best lives every day.

No two Autistic people are the same, and those with Autism present in different ways across the spectrum. During our initial needs assessments, we are committed to understanding each client as an individual- to ensure that we can provide them with support tailored to their specific needs. Our Support Workers receive unparalleled training on an ongoing basis. This provides our team with an enhanced understanding of Clients with autism and allows them to provide the highest standard of care and support.

It was important to us that we show our support this month, not only for our brilliant Autistic Clients, but for the entire Autistic community. As a service, we chose to wear blue in support of the campaign. The colour represents acceptance, hope and calmness- which is appreciated by individuals on the autism spectrum. This is why blue has become a key colour for Autism Acceptance Month.

We rallied our Staff and Families together to show our appreciation for the schools who educate our Autistic Clients, and the social workers who help them access additional provisions. The work they do is so important and has a huge impact on the lives of our Clients and Families. We encouraged everybody to bake or donate something delicious, for us to take into Clients’ schools as a thank you for the amazing support and care they provide to our Clients every day. It was great to see everybody getting involved, and we appreciate all of your donations!

This month, we want to highlight how much we appreciate our fabulous Autistic Clients. We’re incredibly proud to be able to support such brilliant individuals and help them to live their lives to the fullest each day. We’ve had a great time promoting acceptance and understanding of autism this month, and we are looking forward to continuing our work with our Autistic Children, Young People & Adults. Happy Autism Acceptance Month!