Raising Social Awareness

April is Autism Awareness Month. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the diagnosis and to find ways to demonstrate compassion for those affected by autism.

There are countless other days and/or months set aside to raise awareness of various diagnoses, environmental concerns, historical figures and events, significant relationships, etc. Whether or not you are touched personally by whatever is being remembered, mourned, celebrated, or taught, these can prompt us to deliberately consider other people’s abilities, achievements, perspectives, needs, opinions, dreams, fears, and struggles.

These are all opportunities for raising social awareness; awareness of the fact that we all have a unique “context,” or starting point in life, comprised of our past experiences and how we feel about them, our personality, our age, functioning level, emotions, and all of the things mentioned in the above paragraph.

Do you know someone with autism? The statistics (1 in 68) indicate that you probably do. I hope you’ll use Autism Awareness Month to be deliberate about getting to know that person better, not as a diagnosis, but as a unique and valuable person. I guarantee that your life will be enriched as a result!