NPO reflects on communication in Autism month
Action in Autism, a non-profit organisation that strives to improve services and resources for autistic people and their families held a silent bring and share at their school in Parkhill, on Saturday.
LIFE can be isolating and lonely for people who cannot express their basic needs or experiences in a way that the rest of the world understands.
Over 50 per cent of autistic people are non-speaking or partially speaking, and the Autistics Worldwide Facebook Group have put out an appeal that, as an Autistic or as an ally, this April, which is Autism month, should be about acceptance rather than awareness, and to leave out the puzzle pieces, burden talk, the colour blue and miracle cures from the dialogue.
Action in Autism, a non-profit organisation that strives to improve services and resources for autistic people and their families held a silent bring and share at their school in Parkhill, on Saturday.
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Those attending were encouraged to use only alternative means of communication – signs, gestures, pointing, tapping or drawing.
Director of Action in Autism, Kirsten Miller said the event was about taking the emphasis off verbal communication.
“I think the emphasis for this kind of event has now shifted from awareness to acceptance. We feel acceptance is more directly related to autistic people. This is an event we do every year as a way of acknowledging Autism Month but also taking the emphasis off verbal communication. We want to give non-speaking or partially speaking a space that is not dominated by verbal conversation. We encouraged those attending to use whatever means to communicate that didn’t involve speech.
“One of our missions at Action in Autism is to acknowledge, respect and accept autistic people and create safe spaces for them. They’ve been marginalised and excluded from public spaces. I also think many people don’t know how to make accommodations for autistic people and we are also here to help to assist people understand the autistic spectrum and understand how accommodations can be made in public spaces. Our central focus is to improve the quality of life for people with Autism Spectrum Condition and their caregivers,” Miller said.
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