April is Upon us!

April is upon us, what does that mean?

World Autism Awareness and acceptance month!

Throughout the whole month, there is a focus on the experiences of Autistic people.

Providing opportunities and increasing awareness and acceptance to the Autistic community. This is April 2nd each year when the United Nations is encouraged to show support and awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorder including Asperger's syndrome throughout the world.

What does it mean to LOVE someone with Autism?

You see the saying everywhere "I love someone with Autism" but have you ever really stopped to think what that means? What really goes into it?

Well, Acceptance.

You have to accept them for how they are, for the fact that our brains process things differently.

That there WILL be hard days.

As an Autistic myself, I can honestly say it takes a lot of patience and understanding, but that comes with any illness or disability. Autism isn't a flat or even a curved line, it is a spectrum with varying different degrees that make it up.

There are cognitive, and communication difficulties, meltdowns, we can be overly emotional or not very emotional at all, difficulties due to sensory disorders, and being hyper-focused or not being able to focus on any one thing. These can be difficult things to handle when caring for a child or being in a romantic relationship with an Autistic person.

By no means does it mean that it will be hard all the time, but I say this to bring to light some of the difficulties as it's not all gumdrops and rainbows.

We are delightful and funny, and badass like anyone else, don't get me wrong, but when caring for or loving someone with Autism (or any disability) EDUCATION IS KEY.

Try your best to be supportive!

You can do this by Educating yourself, read and learn all you can about ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Learn the best form of communication for both of you.

Learn about which organizations are helpful and which ones are harmful, so you will know which ones are worth supporting!

Learn about why ABA therapy isn't a good option and why in most cases it is dangerous.

Also learn about code-switching, and how an Autistic person might need extra time to process something so that it can be understood.

Be situationally aware, give space when needed, recognize triggers, and be understanding of stimming and other coping/calming mechanisms. (Especially for meltdowns.)

So during the month of April (and all year) keep these things in mind, be patient, educate thy selves and keep spreading awareness!

And Keep Loving Someone with AUTISM!

_Stay Lovely_