Autistic Pride Day

Every year, organizations from across the globe celebrate Autistic Pride Day on June 18 with various events. This day aims to raise awareness amongst those not on the autistic spectrum disorder, so they do not see autistic people as requiring treatment but as unique individuals.

Aspies first celebrated this annual event for Freedom in 2005, and they modeled Autistic Pride Day on the gay pride movement. One of the most significant aspects of the day is that charities do not run it; autistic people run it. Since its beginnings, Autistic Pride Day has been a community event and not a day for other organizations to promote themselves by stifling autistic people. It is now a global celebration that takes place predominantly online.

The rainbow infinity symbol represents Autistic Pride Day. This symbol represents the diversity of autistic people and the infinite possibilities and variations within the autistic community.

According to representatives of Autistic Pride Day, people with autism have unique characteristics that provide them with both rewards and challenges. Although many of the difficulties they face are because of their neurodiversity, another factor is issues in society. For example, society's attitude towards autism is often one of pity or a belief that it requires treatment.

Activists want to shift attitudes away from this and towards acceptance and realize that autism is a difference rather than a disability.

Upcoming Autistic Pride Events

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Autistic Pride events have been canceled for the foreseeable future. In 2020, a group of Autistic Pride organizers created an online event, open to everybody from anywhere. It was held on Zoom and streamed through YouTube. You can view some speeches from the day on the Autistic Pride Alliance YouTube channel.

Joseph Redford, an organizer for London Autistic Pride, stated in a speech that the concept of autistic pride is not about a single day or event:

• For individuals, Autistic Pride doesn't necessarily need to take the form of public events. The organizer of Inverness Autistic Pride, Kabie Brook, told me that she celebrated Autistic Pride day by taking a walk in the park with her family. And enjoying herself.
• Openly stimming, vocalizing, or expressing yourself in your own body language is an example of Autistic Pride in Action.
• Standing up and passionately defending your own truth, regardless of convention or tone, or social dynamics even if it goes entirely against the grain, or others consider it minor or pedantic, is Autistic Pride in Action.
• Seeking knowledge according to your own logic is Autistic Pride in Action.
• Completely breaking social rules, if it doesn't cause harm, is Autistic Pride in Action.
• Demanding to be treated with the same respect and dignity as others is Autistic Pride in Action.
• Walking away from something if you can't handle it is Autistic Pride in Action.

To show your support, visit  Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.