Reflection on World Autism Awareness Day!

As I settle down for the evening I reflect on the events that today has brought. Today was World Autism Awareness Day. I have very conflicting thoughts on this day. Today, I was on the streets handing out bracelets to light it up blue for autism, which in turn helps support Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks created the campaign that allowed World Autism Awareness Day to exist. Do I believe in everything that happens with Autism Speaks? No. Do I support Autism Speaks? Well, I'd like to say that I don't, but when there is not other organization that promotes the awareness and acceptance of Autism that will reach a large public audience, I have no other choice but to "partner with them.

Being an Autistic individual, it truly hurts have an organization that believes that we can't speak for ourselves. Granted, there are some people that can't speak for themselves, but an individual with Asperger's is going to be able to explain Autism a heck of a lot better than someone who is neurotypical. If one does not live the life, how can one know what we want and need?


Today I lit it up blue, not for Autism Speaks, but for The ACRES Project, which is something near and dear to my heart. We have a voice and ACRES is listening.