Autism Acceptance
Acceptance is an action. As the advocates at ASAN remind us “words must translate into action. As autistic self-advocates have said from the beginning, we must move beyond acceptance — to representation, celebration, and liberation. Acceptance is not the end goal. It is the baseline, a call to do better, the starting line of the marathon.”
We echo these thoughts and encourage you to listen and learn from autistic people themselves, which the resources below reflect, to not only accept difference as a natural part of the human experience but to celebrate and include it in meaningful ways.
Read Alouds featuring Autistic characters and concepts
Videos featuring Autism Acceptance
Autism Acceptance Spirit Week (created by the Neurodivergent Teacher)
Autism Acceptance Spirit Week Flyer
Autism Acceptance Month Bulletin Board
Neurodivergent Narwhal Resources
Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library’s Neurodivergent Narwhal infographics.
Be sure to check out “Everyone Communicates”
Learn about Autistic Artists
13 Amazing Artists on the Autism Spectrum You Need to Check Out
These 10 artists prove autism is no barrier to creativity
Learn about many famous Autistic people
Read Books with Autistic Characters
Find more books on this list
#OwnVoices Picture Books with Autistic Characters
YouTube Playlist of #OwnVoices Autism Acceptance Books and videos
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me by Sally J. Pla
Too Sticky!: Sensory Issues with Autism by Jen Malia
Autistic Ollie by Jacob Drum
Really, Really Like Me by Gretchen Leary
Darius Hates Vegetables by Darius Brown
Happy Flappy and Me by Joy Johnson
Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap by Clay and Gail Morton
Pretty Darn Awesome (Read aloud - Pretty Darn Awesome)
Can I tell you about Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome?: A guide for friends, family, and professionals (Can I tell you about...?)
#OwnVoices Middle Grade Books with Autistic Characters
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Can You See Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Do You Know Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! by Sarah Kapit
M is for Autism by Vicky Martin
Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse by Susan Vaught
Moojag and the Auticode Secret by N.E. McMorran
Moonwalking by Zetta Elliott & Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Rogue by Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Stanley Will Probably Be Fine, by Sally J. Pla
The Insiders Club by Echo Miller
The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla
Ways to be Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
#OwnVoices Young Adult Books with Autistic Characters
Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
The Place Inside the Storm by Bradley W. Wright
Unbroken, 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp
Underdogs by Chris Bonnello
#OwnVoices Adult Books about Autism and/or with Autistic Characters
All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism by Autism Women’s Network
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
And Straight on Til Morning: Essays on Autism Acceptance by ASAN edited by Julia Bascom
I Overcame My Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder by Sarah Kurchak
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
I Am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor by Dr. Lamar Hardwick
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
The Secret Life of a Black Aspie by Anand Prahlad
PDA by PDAers: From Anxiety to Avoidance and Masking to Meltdowns
The PDA Paradox: The Highs and Lows of My Life on a Little-Known Part of the Autism Spectrum
Upcoming #OwnVoices Books about Autism to Watch Out For
Flap Your Hands by Steve Asbell, illustrated by Steve Asbell (Spring 2021)
Izzy at the End of the World by K. A. Reynolds (2022)
Books about Autism for Further Learning
Welcome to the Autistic Community by ASAN
Read Welcome to the Autistic Community online
Get the book “Welcome to the Autistic Community” in various formats
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman
Especially for Educators of Neurodivergent Students
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing by Dr. Luke Beardon
Beyond Behaviors by Mona Delahooke PhD
Collaborative Approaches to Learning for Pupils with PDA by Ruth Fidler and Phil Christie
Communication Alternatives in Autism: Perspectives on Typing and Spelling Approaches…by Edlyn Vallejo Peña
Inclusive Education for Autistic Children: Helping Children and Young People to Learn and Flourish in the Classroom by Dr. Rebecca Wood
Lost At School: Why Our Kids With Behavioral Challenges Are Falling Through The Cracks And How We Can Help Them by Dr. Ross Greene Ph. D
Understanding and Evaluating Autism Theory by Nick Chown
War on Autism: On the Cultural Logic of Normative Violence by Anne McGuire
Movies to Watch and Discuss
Amazing Things Happen (4 minutes)
Chammi- Hear Me Now (2 and a half minutes)
Deej (53 or 72 minutes)
Dillan’s Voice (2 minutes)
Loop (Disney Plus) (11 minutes)
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2021/02/welcoming-autism-into-pixars-world.html
Making of: Loop | “The Making of Loop” Documentary | SparkShorts | Pixar
Neuro Bears (4.5 minutes)
Sisterly (28 minutes)
The Reason I Jump
Available on Netflix
Unspoken (26 minutes)
Wretchers and Jabbers (1 hour 34 minutes)
Why Johnny Doesn't Flap
Lesson Plans and Resources
Neurodiversity in Middle-Grade Books
Neurodiversity in MG Books with Adriana White
Writing Exercises Based on Get A Grip Vivy Cohen
Autism Acceptance Bitmoji Room
April is Autism Acceptance Month - This Bitmoji Room (updated for 2022) (this is the version from 2021 Bitmoji Room) is geared towards Primary (Grades 1 - 3). This was a collaborative effort with the actual Autistic community whose positions and messages are centered in the private Facebook group @AutismInclusivity (https://www.facebook.com/groups/autisminclusivity). The slides are for teachers of intermediate grades. These infographics come directly from the Autistic community covering topics such as identity-first language, avoiding the use of high/low-functioning labels, rejecting Autism Speaks and the puzzle piece symbol. *Note: Feel free to “replace” the included teacher Bitmoji with your own.
Understanding the Spectrum
https://theoraah.tumblr.com/post/142300214156/understanding-the-spectrum
https://neuroclastic.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/
My Way Listening (not “whole body listening”)
Instead of telling kids that we only recognize that they are listening when they are using “whole body listening” use this to let them tell you how they listen best.
We are all different in the way we talk, the way we look and even the way we listen.
“Changing the Way We Support” Course
Changing the Way We Support Course for Educators, Therapists and Related Professionals
Autism Resources for Elementary School Educators
Resources collected by “Not An Autism Mom” are broken into categories such as “Understanding Autism, Sensory Resources, Communication andAAC Resources, Must-Read Books for Educators and Librarian’s Corner.
Apraxia and Nonspeakers
https://neuroclastic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Apraxia.pdf