Being aware of something means “the quality or state of being aware.” It is not active and takes little to no effort. Acceptance, in contrast, requires action—making an effort to understand and approve of another. As noted by Kassiane S., a blog post writer on the ASAN website, “Acceptance of autistic people, like acceptance of pretty much all people, involves moving past surface impressions.” The most effective way to move past those surface impressions is to talk with people who live the experience every day. People with autism, in other words.
To highlight the importance of acceptance, the theme of this issue of The OARacle, we asked young adults with autism what acceptance means to them. Why is it important? What can others do to make people with autism feel accepted? What are the biggest barriers to autism acceptance?
Acceptance means listening and treating somebody without judgment, treating another person without double standards or biases. The most important acceptance however, is personal acceptance. How do you feel about having autism? Is it a strength or weakness? Is it something you’re proud or ashamed of? I believe it is very hard to be accepted by others if you can’t accept yourself.
A positive environment and understanding of neurodiversity is critical to success, illustrated by many studies. If we, the neurodiverse community, are accepted without judgment, we can be better understood by the neurotypical community. Being honest about your own limitations is also a big part of acceptance. We, like everyone else, are not perfect, and have things we struggle with, which will differ from person to person. Self-acceptance means not seeing yourself solely as someone who is burdened, but also not seeing yourself as someone who is mistake-free.
Negative stereotypes create a difficult and judgmental environment in schools and workplaces and can prevent disclosure and self-advocacy of the person with autism from occurring.
A lack of personal acceptance is something I have also seen as a barrier to many with autism. Many times I have seen people afraid to disclose their autism to others, with a few expressing their shame and worry of discrimination. From personal experience, I have learned the value of wearing autism proudly on my sleeve rather than something to be ashamed of. Because of my willingness not only to disclose my autism, but teach others about it, many companies and organizations have been extremely interested in talking to me.
Some things people can do to include people with autism include involving us in clubs and activities, talking to us nonjudgmentally, and treating us with respect as they would any other person!
Ben VanHook is a 20-year-old college student who has just completed his junior year at Mercyhurst University. He has been very active and involved in autism advocacy through talking and communicating with companies such as MITRE and Amazon and interning at StemSkills and, most recently, Crossroads Campaigns.
I think that acceptance for people with autism is necessary in the workplace. People with autism can be incredibly intelligent and have many strengths to offer employers. Networking is important for people to find opportunities to work in competitive fields and use their intelligence effectively. In order for people with autism to network and make connections, they need to be accepted. One barrier to this is the lack of understanding of the way that people with autism socialize and communicate differently. This may prevent them from networking altogether or their different social skills may cause other people to underestimate their intelligence and abilities, and not give them an opportunity for employment or promotion because of an unawareness about their differences.
It is important for me to be accepted so that I can get a job in the exciting career of cybersecurity, which I will also use to start my own business in the future.
Jason Dine is an OAR scholarship recipient and a cybersecurity major at Columbus State University, Columbus, Ga.
Why is acceptance important?
What does acceptance mean to you?
What are the biggest barriers to autism acceptance?
What can others do to make people with autism feel accepted?
Members of The Order of Self Determination offered these ideas about acceptance. The Order is a club for high school students with autism at the Arlington, Va., Career Center in the Program for Employment Preparedness. OAR contributor and presenter, Deborah Hammer, an autism specialist for Arlington Public Schools, is the club’s advisor.
Why is acceptance important?
What does acceptance mean to you?
What can others do to make people with autism feel accepted?
What are the biggest barriers to acceptance?
Members of the Cool Aspies Club, a social club for young adults with autism in Alexandria, Va., provided these responses. Hammer founded and facilitates the Cool Aspies Club.
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