01/04/2026
April is Autism Awareness Month. Which, we hasten to add, is welcomed.
But let’s be honest for a moment. Fast-forward a mere 30 days... April ends but autism will still be with us come May 1st. And any other date you care to mention, for that matter.
For autistic individuals and the people closest to them – the families; the carers... the entire support network there to assist them to live and function in a neurotypically-engineered world - this isn’t something that shows up for 30 days and then disappears or gets shoved back into a box and stored in the loft for the next outing. It’s something that stays with them, 24 hours a day; 365 days a year — for life.
It's believed that there are currently in excess of one million autistic individuals living in the UK (source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) - many of those are either undiagnosed or going through the arduous process. If you double that number... and then double it again... you are more likely to be getting closer to the real number of people who are either autistic or directly affected by autism - this month is dedicated to them.
So yes, let’s use April to raise awareness. Let’s make some meaningful noise. Doing that will have an impact, without doubt.
But please - also use it as a reminder.
A reminder that real “awareness” requires understanding.
That understanding should lead to acceptance.
And true acceptance should lead to meaningful inclusion. Not just in April, but in May, June… and every month that follows.
Because when we truly embrace different ways of thinking, communicating and experiencing the world, we don’t just support autistic individuals.
We will ALL benefit.
Today should be the starting point of a marathon. Not a sprint to a finish line.
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