April is World Autism Month. Earlier this month Phantom Lake Elementary School community celebrated Autism Acceptance Day. Students wore red and engaged in classroom activities highlighting and celebrating autistic and neurodiverse individuals. Some of these activities included reading stories with autistic characters and having discussions about diversity, acceptance and ways students could be good friends to one another. Students decorated the infinity symbol with ways to show acceptance to autistic/neurodivergent people. Some classes discussed the phrase “Acceptance is an Action” and what it means to them.
Prior to this day, PLE staff spent time learning from #actuallyautistic creators in order to reframe and challenge much of their prior thinking around autism. Resources were shared with staff that highlighted autistic voices and experiences. These resources provided opportunities to grow in learning about what the #actuallyautistic community has to say about autism and how the neurotypical, or allistic community, can show solidarity and be an ally. The resources shared the vision behind #redinstead, the power of presuming potential in all learners, the shift in using identity-first language (wording about a person that leads with a description of them in the context of a disability, medical conditions, or other physical or cognitive difference) and refraining from using functioning labels (descriptors that define a person’s ability to function in society), and the importance of using the infinity symbol to represent autism, intended to reflect “diversity with infinite variations and infinite possibilities.” The message of continued acceptance and value of our diverse learning community fosters a sense of belonging for each and every student at Phantom Lake and throughout the Bellevue School District.
How did you/your school celebrate Autism Acceptance Day? Let us know and we’ll share more stories throughout the month.