Autism Acceptance Day

ASAN staffer Paula C. Durbin-Westby and ASAN Board Member Melanie Yergeau gave an interview in which they explained why it’s important to start off April with an acceptance message. Autism awareness is not enough in itself; understanding and acceptance are vital to bringing about a world in which Autistic citizens are equal members of society. When autism awareness events focus only on dealing with problems, the resulting portrayals of autism are overly negative and alarmist, leaving the public with misleading and biased impressions. The goal of Autism Acceptance Day as envisioned by its creator, Ms. Durbin-Westby, is to create a more balanced discourse in which Autistic people are viewed not just as the sum of their difficulties, but as whole human beings.