abstract
| - Autism Acceptance Month was first organized by Paula Durbin Westby in 2011. The emphasis on acceptance was a response to Autism Awareness Month, an event run by Autism Speaks, an organization known among the autistic community for its demonization of autism and its attempts to silence autistic people's protests. Autistic writers have discussed their frustrations with autism awareness: "In the past, autism awareness efforts have at best promoted this kind of false tolerance and at worst have promoted outright lies that we are pathetic, helpless, unfeeling people or at worst tragic mistakes of nature or genetics. So, what good is awareness when it consists of fallacies, half-truths, and dangerous stereotypes? This is why the focus must shift from awareness to acceptance." —Nicole Nicholson and Virgil S. MadayAutism Acceptance Month is heavily supported by ASAN, which has set up a website dedicated to the month. It is celebrated by autistic people, their loved ones, and their allies all around the world.
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