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04/05/2021

Association Shifts Its Messaging from 'Awareness' to 'Acceptance'

This isn't a new approach for autism advocates

Raising awareness is frequently the rallying cry for organizations aiming to highlight central issues in their communities, empower members, and strengthen advocacy. But sometimes awareness isn’t enough.

April has long been known as “Autism Awareness Month,” but the Autism Society of America recently announced it is formally shifting references to “Autism Awareness Month” to “Autism Acceptance Month,” a significant move it hopes will lead to better inclusion and belonging for its community. The group is encouraging the media to reflect the change in their ongoing coverage.

“There’s more as a society we must do than just be aware of an issue,” said Christopher Banks, president and CEO of ASA. “We must accept individuals for who they are, celebrate their differences, and help them live lives as they wish more fully, completely, and robustly.”

Please select this link to read the complete article from Associations Now. 

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