April is Autism Acceptance Month. Throughout the month, we will be celebrating our community as we foster acceptance and ignite change.
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States, with one in 36 children receiving a diagnosis, according to a newly-released report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In addition to 5.8 million Autistic adults, this prevalence means that Autism likely touches a vast majority of Americans either through relationships or direct experience, and the support needs across the Autism spectrum are vastly different. During Autism Acceptance Month, the ASCV is highlighting the diversity of experiences and needs with a reminder that acceptance happens every day.
Join us as we promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance this April. We look forward to sharing important information, valuable resources, and engaging activities throughout the month, and we hope you will share, too!
Ways You Can Help Grow Awareness & Promote Acceptance
Throughout the month, we hope you will join us in growing awareness, promoting acceptance, and igniting change here in Central Virginia. Here are some things you can do:
- Looking for local community resources? Visit our Resource Directory
- Share facts and resources to help people learn about autism
- Autism fact sheet for younger children
- Autism fact sheet for teenagers
- Autism fact cards and quotes – Print and share around the community – in classrooms, offices, grocery stores, car windshields, etc.
- Read books about autism
- Watch a television show or film with autistic actors or characters with autism, or listen to a podcast featuring autistic individuals
- Follow autistic bloggers and content creators*
- Find a creative way to display information about acceptance – create a bulletin board in your home or office, a sign in your window or yard, or a sidewalk chalk message in your driveway.
- Attend an inclusive or educational event in the community! Find a few local events coming up on our Community Calendar.
- Contact your local representatives to educate them about autism and advocate for funding to support high quality services and programming for individuals with autism. You can do this by sharing your story, your legislative priorities, and how your representative can impact your family.
- Invite the ASCV to do a presentation on autism at your school, office, community center, church, etc. Email us to schedule a date and time!
Thank you to the members of ASCV’s Self-Advocate Council for helping us update our resource lists!
*Disclaimer: The Autism Society of Virginia does not endorse any of the views, opinions, or statements presented in the following content. The views expressed therein are solely those of the individuals or entities involved and do not reflect the official stance or endorsement of the ASCV. Viewers/readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information provided and form their own informed opinions.
This is not a comprehensive list and just a small sampling of available resources and autistic experiences! There are many additional autistic content creators out there and we encourage viewers/readers to seek out additional resources by autistic creators!
Ways to Support the ASCV This April
During Autism Acceptance Month, we partner with local businesses to host events and raise funds to support the ASCV and our local autism community. These funds go directly towards our programs and support services, allowing us to continue to meet the needs of our growing local autism community.
- Join the ASCV as a member! Visit https://ascv.org/membership/ to learn more about our membership options.
- Volunteer at an upcoming program or event!
- Form a team for the ASCV 5K & Family Fun Day and fundraise together! The ASCV 5K & Family Fun Day will return to Crump Park on May 17, 2025, with our 5K run/walk, a Resource Fair, family fun, and more! Visit ascv5K.org to register.
- Create a Facebook fundraiser for the ASCV. Share how the ASCV has helped you grow, and how the funds you raise will provide important programming and resources to local individuals with autism and their families. Make a video or piece of art to accompany the fundraiser and share with friends and family through email.
- Participate in the Kroger Rewards Program. To register, log into your account, then search for the Autism Society Central Virginia (#LS065) and click “enroll.” After you enroll, anytime you use your Kroger Rewards card, your purchase will count toward the ASCV. (From December 2022 through February of 2023, 67 households donated $330 to the ASCV!)