Transitioning From Acceptance to Appreciation in the Autism Community
April 10, 2024
By: Ben VanHook
This Autism Acceptance Month, I want to challenge us, as a community, to take the steps necessary to go beyond acceptance and towards the true appreciation of autistic individuals.
Just as awareness is seen differently from acceptance, so too, is acceptance from appreciation. The difference between acceptance and appreciation is not “just semantical”, but rather important, with crucial implications. We must begin to realize that acceptance is the bare minimum and that we can do better to support the autism community.
Awareness is acknowledging that bridges exist. Acceptance is tolerating these bridges’ existence. Appreciation is actively taking steps to strengthen and grow these bridges to better understand and support them.
To contrast acceptance and appreciation:
Some ways we can move beyond the mere acceptance of autism include:
This autism acceptance month, I challenge us, as a society, to move beyond mere acceptance and into the true appreciation of autistic individuals. To start building and strengthening these bridges!
Ben VanHook is an AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) master’s student at George Mason University studying public policy and is currently employed at the Organization for Autism Research as the Community Support Coordinator.
This content was written by Ben VanHook in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely his as of the date of the publication and are subject to change. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Organization for Autism Research (OAR).