Many people know April as Autism Awareness Month.
A significant portion of the autistic community -- especially #actuallyaustistic folks -- hope for more than awareness.
Autism Level UP! was created by Dr. Amy Laurent and Dr. JÂcqûelyn Fede to supplement the awareness movement. It explores the idea that we as a society can do better than just being aware of autism. We can also accept autistics for who they are, we can appreciate their strengths and challenges, we can empower them to be their best selves, and we can even advocate for their rights.
Click here for a brief overview of the different levels.
And look here for a more in-depth discussion of the levels.
Awareness:
There's nothing wrong with starting with awareness! Awareness is necessary to begin the journey toward being an ally to autistic individuals.
Acceptance:
It can be hard to know what to do or where to look in order to move from awareness to acceptance. Thankfully, The Neurodivergent Teacher has created a whole 20-day plan!
Appreciation & Beyond:
If you're feeling ready to keep going, that's fantastic! The overview and article linked at the beginning of this post provide a fantastic starting point for moving further up the ladder.