Autism Acceptance Month
- Monarch
- Apr 1
- 5 min read
April is Autism Acceptance Month. Throughout this month, our blogs will focus on explaining what autism is and is not, as well as blogs that celebrate the strengths of autistic individuals.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person thinks, interacts with others, and experiences the world. The term "spectrum" is key here, because autism exists along a wide range of behaviors and characteristics. This means that each individual with autism is unique. Some may need a lot of support in their daily life, while others may be highly independent and successful.
Autism doesn’t have a single cause, and its symptoms can show up differently in each person. Some people might show signs of autism early in life, while others may be diagnosed later in their lives. What’s important is that autism is not something that can be “fixed” or “cured”—because someone with autism isn’t “broken” or “sick”. An autistic individual has a different way of viewing the world, interacting with others, and thinking. Autism Acceptance Month is focused on understanding autistic individuals.
Key Areas of Difference in Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with autism may experience differences in the following areas:
1. Social Communication and Interaction
One of the primary areas where autistic individuals may experience differences is in social communication. Individuals with ASD might find it challenging to understand social cues like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. This can make it harder for them to form friendships or connect with others. They may also struggle with conversations, such as taking turns while talking or staying on topic. Some individuals with autism may prefer to be alone, while others might want to engage socially but just don’t know how to start or maintain a conversation.
Examples of differences:
Preference for solitary play or differences in an individual’s ability to connect with others.
Differences in an individual’s ability to start, keep, and/or end a conversation with someone.
Differences in an individual’s ability to use nonverbal communication (e.g., gestures, changes in facial expression, and/or eye contact) with verbal communication.
Differences in an individual’s comfort or ability to make and/or maintain eye contact.
Differences in an individual’s ability to make or keep friends.
2. Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests
Another key feature of autism is the presence of repetitive behaviors or a strong interest in specific topics. This can include things like repeating the same actions over and over (such as hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning objects) or focusing intensely on one interest or hobby, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else.
People with autism may find comfort in routines and may become upset if those routines are changed. They might also engage in repetitive behaviors to help them manage stress or sensory overload.
Examples of differences:
Repetitive movements (e.g., stimming behaviors, like hand flapping or looking at objects a specific way).
Repetitive speech (e.g., repeating words or phrases, repeating movie lines or song lyrics).
Repetitive use of objects (e.g., organizing objects in a specific way).
Preference for routines.
Deep interests.
Sensory sensitivities and/or preferences.
3. Sensory Sensitivities
Many individuals with autism experience differences in how they process sensory information. This can mean being hypersensitive to sounds, textures, lights, or smells, or, in some cases, being under-sensitive to sensory input. These sensory sensitivities can make everyday experiences, like going to the grocery store or attending a noisy family gathering, overwhelming or even painful.
Examples of sensory differences:
Being easily startled by loud noises
Having a strong aversion to certain fabrics or food textures
Preferring to avoid certain smells or lights
Seeking out sensory input, like jumping on a trampoline
The DSM-5-TR Criteria for Diagnosing Autism
In order for a healthcare professional (like a psychologist or psychiatrist) to diagnose someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder, they follow a set of criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), which is used by clinicians to diagnose mental health and developmental conditions. These criteria include:
1. Persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts.
This includes differences with things like:
Social-emotional reciprocity (e.g., difficulty in back-and-forth conversations or sharing interests)
Nonverbal communication (e.g., trouble understanding or using facial expressions, gestures, or eye contact)
Developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships (e.g., difficulty making friends or adjusting behavior in different social situations)
2. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
This category refers to behaviors that are repetitive or highly focused on specific interests. Examples include:
Stereotyped or repetitive movements (like hand-flapping or spinning)
Insistence on sameness or routines (e.g., always taking the same route to school)
Highly focused, intense interests (e.g., memorizing facts about a particular subject)
Sensory sensitivity or unusual sensory interests (e.g., fascination with lights or sounds
3. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period.
This means that signs of autism typically appear during childhood, although they may not be recognized or diagnosed until later.
4. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The symptoms must impact daily life in a meaningful way. For instance, they might affect a child’s ability to make friends, succeed in school, or participate in family activities.
5. Symptoms are not better explained by intellectual disability or global developmental delay.
The above criteria are used for making a diagnosis and tend to use medical language and focus on "deficits" and not differences. Matt Lowry, LPP
has updated this criteria to be more strength-based, which focuses on differences and not deficits.
Autism is a Spectrum
As mentioned earlier, autism exists on a spectrum, which means it can look different from person to person. Some individuals may require a lot of support, while others are able to lead independent lives. This is why some people use terms like "high-functioning" or "low-functioning," but it's important to remember that these labels can be limiting and don’t always capture the full picture of a person’s abilities or challenges.
The Importance of Autism Acceptance
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder is about recognizing that every individual is unique. Rather than focusing solely on challenges, it's important to appreciate the strengths and differences that come with autism—whether it’s a child’s ability to focus deeply on a specific interest, their unique way of seeing the world, or their honest, direct communication style. If you know someone with autism, whether it’s your child, a student, or a friend, remember that small acts of kindness and understanding can make a big difference. Autism doesn’t define a person—it’s just one part of who they are.
If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment. Understanding autism starts with conversation, and together, we can create a more inclusive world for everyone.
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