Ryan Boren

It’s a sad indictment on our society that Autism Awareness Month (April) is the month that Autistic People feel they have no other option but to hide, just to make it through.

— Ryan Hendry (@RyanHendry94) February 5, 2018

I’m autistic and a parent of autistic kids. April is a tough month for us and other #ActuallyAutistic people. Stereotypes, myths, and inspiration porn are everywhere. Before Lighting It Up Blue, sharing puzzle pieces, or promoting Autism Speaks at your school, read up on the myths and misinformation autistic people must confront every April.

Navigating Autism Acceptance Month and Autism Myths

Follow that up with information about autism from autistic people themselves.

I’m Autistic. Here’s what I’d like you to know.

Identity First is the language of self-advocacy, neurodiversity, and the social model of disability. It is the language of almost every autistic and disabled person I know. Bring IFL into our schools.

We can’t design for inclusivity, for real life, without the social model for minds and bodies.

• Education, Neurodiversity, the Social Model of Disability, and Real Life
• Compassion is not coddling. Design for real life.

More on autism, neurodiversity, the social model of disability, and education:

• I’m Autistic. Here’s what I’d like you to know.
• Presume Competence: A Hippocratic Oath for Education
• Autistic Burnout: The Cost of Coping and Passing
• Autistic Empathy
• The Double Empathy Problem: Developing Empathy and Reciprocity in Neurotypical Adults
• Autistic Anxiety and the Ableism of Accommodation
• Neurodiversity and Unilateral Accommodationism
• Eye Contact and Neurodiversity
• Picking Floods, Picking Senses
• Navigating Autism Acceptance Month and Autism Myths
• The Gift: LD/ADHD Reframed
• Identity First
• Bring the backchannel forward. Written communication is the great social equalizer.
• Inspiration Porn, Growth Mindset, and Deficit Ideology
• Neurodiversity Library
• Interaction Badges
• Hidden Disability
• Ben Foss on Dyslexia and Shame
• Compassion is not coddling. Design for real life.
• The Many Forms of Difference
• Neurodiversity and Gender Non-conformity, Dysphoria and Fluidity
• Bathroom Bills, Neurodiversity, and Disability
• Neurodiversity and Cognition Representation
• Harm reduction, addiction, tough love, 12 steps, neurodiversity, and the troubled-teen industry
• Transitioning from invisible to visible disability
• Atypical and Autism Representation
• An Actually Autistic Review of “To Siri with Love”
• Designing for Inclusivity with the Social Model
• Classroom UX: Bring Your Own Comfort, Bring Your Own Device, Design Your Own Context
• The Segregation of Special