Technically, this starts tomorrow.  I assume because you don’t want to start it on April Fools Day.  Still, this is an entire month where attention is brough to autism.  Though, it has gone beyond that to involve ALL neurodivergent people.  Given my background, I’m going to focus on autism though.

A major reason for this is because I still run into many people who think the following:

• Those with autism are stupid.
• Those with autism cannot succeed.
• Those with autism are dangerous.
• Those with high-functioning autism don’t really have autism.
• Those who are nonverbal don’t know what is going on.
• Those who are nonverbal cannot communicate at all.
• Autism can be cured.  (This one pisses me off.)

The list keeps going, but you get the point.

After working with students who have autism (and other neurodivergent conditions) and being the father of an autistic teenager, my thoughts routinely change.  My son does remarkably well in school and works hard even though he has trouble understanding concepts we take for granted.  His social skills are rough, but he is a good kid that wants to help others and tries to get that point across.  My students also work hard and do their best to accomplish whatever goals we set.  Usually because they are teenagers and even those who are nonverbal will have bouts of (You’re not the boss of me!), which makes for interesting challenges.  It’s always an adventure.

So, I’m going to make a post about autism every Tuesday, but also one on Sunday with questions for the audience.  I’m thinking of making the post on the 29th a collection of things people have learned about autism over the years.  Simply to show at the end of the month how perceptions can change.

What do people think about that?  Heck, feel free to mention anything that you found interesting about autism that other people should know now.  Don’t have to wait for me to get my act together.