Leslie Jeffreys and Noni Voth prepare seeds at the Warsaw Community Public Library for the Seed Library, which is free for everyone. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Public Library.

By Melissa Chapman
Cataloging Supervisor
Warsaw Community Public Library

WARSAW — April is known for spring, flowers and as Autism Acceptance Month. This April, autism rights groups are asking schools and the media to focus on the inclusion and acceptance of those with different neurologies. Many self-advocates for autism spectrum disorders view their neurology as a difference in thinking, not something that needs to be cured.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 36 children in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. There’s no known cause of autism, and the experience is different for everyone.

We are all hardwired to survive, and it is human nature to form opinions about people who appear or behave differently and then to avoid them. It is easy to feel uncomfortable because a person on the spectrum may not show many facial expressions or reactions. They have difficulty with social cues, which leads to ignorance and preconceptions from those who aren’t autistic.

Autism should be celebrated. Autistic people do amazing things; some of history’s greatest inventors and scientists had autism, like Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla. Other famous people who are autistic are actors Anthony Hopkins and Daryl Hannah, and directors Alfred Hitchcock, Tim Burton and Stephen Spielberg, and the list goes on and on. The way in which a person with autism experiences social interactions and their general social way of being may also contribute to their success. People with autism can live a fulfilling life, especially when they embrace who they are as unique and amazing human beings.

How can we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month? Plan a family trip to an autism-friendly destination. Wear blue in support of acceptance. Display the color-coordinated infinity symbol when appropriate. Why not attend or support autism-friendly events? Educate yourself about autism and be a year-round ally as well. Watch movies and shows featuring autistic characters. Accommodate and support lifestyles and preferences of people with autism spectrum disorder. Take a selfie and post it with #myaustism on social media.

And last but not least, visit your local library and check out some books on autism.

The greatest thing we can do is embrace diversity and the understanding of differences in others.