Autism Acceptance Month 2024
In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, the Office of National Autism Coordination (ONAC) within the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) honors the contributions of people on the autism spectrum and the autism community to our nation and the world. We join the United Nations and the U.S. government in recognizing the needs of people on the autism spectrum and their families. Our office acknowledges the need to support, understand, accept, include, and empower people on the autism spectrum. Throughout the month of April, we will be updating this page with the latest news and events.
News
April 1, 2024
In honor of World Autism Acceptance Day, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. issued a proclamation to celebrate the contributions of all neurodiverse people. He commits to working towards ending disparities that autistic people experience when accessing employment, healthcare, and education. President Biden also recognizes the advances his Administration has made and the importance of advancing disability rights around the world.
April 2, 2024
UN Secretary General António Guterres recognizes both the contributions of autistic people as well as the barriers they face. He states that governments around the world must invest in stronger community support systems, inclusive education and training programs, and accessible and technology-based solutions to enable persons with autism to enjoy the same rights as others.
April 4, 2024
During National Autism Acceptance Month, NIMH and the NIMH Office of National Autism Coordination celebrate the important contributions of autistic people and reaffirm their support for the acceptance, inclusion, and full participation of autistic people in all aspects of community life. In this blog, they highlight NIMH’s unique role in federal autism coordination efforts and reflect on how the lived experiences of autistic people and their families have shaped federal autism research, services, and policy. They emphasize the importance of listening to community voices, representing diverse experiences, and prioritizing collaboration and inclusion.
April 4, 2024
The Arc celebrates the talents, contributions, and diversity within the autism community. They highlight the need for creating a truly inclusive society. The Arc works to uplift the voices and perspectives of autistic people in April and beyond.
April 2, 2024
The Indian Health Service (IHS) recognizes April 2 as World Autism Acceptance Day and the month of April as Autism Acceptance Month. IHS is committed to supporting individuals on the autism spectrum and is dedicated to improving their efforts to support and educate providers and caregivers of individuals with ASD.
April 2, 2024
This World Autism Awareness Day, Autism Speaks is announced of its newly established Champions of Change program. Their inaugural class of five autistic advocates and spokespeople will serve as messengers, advocates, allies and advisors for the nonprofit organization and to the autistic community at large.
April 1, 2024
Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, released new resources in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month. These free resources are available both in English and Spanish and are designed to help autistic children and their families build confidence and self-determination skills, while also fostering understanding and acceptance of autism among all children and adults.
April 1, 2024
In this video segment, Dani Bowman from Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum” and Kristyn Roth from the Autism Society speak to NBC’s Gadi Schwartz on the importance of neurodivergent people having the opportunity to access all areas of life, from dating to employment.
April 2024
This April, the Autism Society of America continues its sixth annual #CelebrateDifferences campaign in honor of Autism Acceptance Month. Autism Society believes that acceptance is creating a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it.
April 2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created this toolkit to raise autism awareness to promote autism acceptance, celebrate neurodiversity and individual differences, and continue to advance inclusivity and connectedness throughout the community. This toolkit includes social media messages, information about CDC’s efforts to collect and track data, and ways you can support children and youth on the autism spectrum.
Events
April 2, 2024; 10:00 a.m. ET
For the first time, the UN’s 2024 observance of World Autism Awareness Day seeks to share the perspectives of autistic people from across the globe. Their panel will feature autistic people from six regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin American and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania. The speakers will provide their thoughts on the state of affairs in their respective regions, as well as the importance of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for autistic people to be able to thrive.
April 5, 2024; 2:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will focus on developing the skills of providers and families of children with autism in identifying basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), differentiating types of ABA intervention through case examples, examine misconceptions regarding ABA, and how to utilize ABA strategies with children with autism. Teaching tools will include resource page, quick facts for providers, and handouts for families.
April 11, 2024; 11:00 a.m. ET
The NIEHS's World Autism Month event will feature Eric Garcia, author of We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. His book is a mix of memoir, history, field interviews, myth-busting, and advice on how to better understand autism.
April 13, 2024; 8:00 a.m. ET
The Organization for Autism Research will be hosting their 6th annual Active for Autism 5K & Kids Dash. This is an in-person and virtual fitness and fundraising event during April for Autism Acceptance Month. The in-person event will be held in Alexandria, VA.
April 16, 2024; 2:00 p.m. ET
The NIMH and ONAC are pleased to host the 11th Annual Autism Acceptance Month Special Event, Sound Tracks: An Artistic Journey to Belonging. This hybrid event will feature autistic photographer Blair Bunting, autistic violinist Laura Nadine, and neurodivergent filmmaker John Schaffer. The event will include a showing of the film Sound Tracks, directed by Mr. Schaffer and featuring Mr. Bunting and Ms. Nadine, as well as Q&A with the artists and remarks from Denise Resnik of First Place AZ, the non-profit organization that sponsored the film.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024; 10:00 a.m. ET
The purpose of the IACC meeting is to discuss business, agency updates, and issues related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research and services activities. The Committee will recognize World Autism Awareness Day and National Autism Acceptance Month, with a focus on global autism efforts. The meeting will be hybrid and open to the public.
April 25, 2024; 12:00 p.m. ET
The Institute of Neurodiversity began a Masterclass series on Neurodiversity in 2021. Their April 2024 webinar will feature neurodiversity advocate Anna Justine Sochacka.
