Recent efforts by the self-advocates of ASAN and the Autism Society seek to shift April from Autism Awareness Month to that of Autism Acceptance. We asked Thomas Iland, a prominent autism advocate in our community, what his thoughts are on on the Awareness v. Acceptance debate. This was his response.
Tom Iland, Autism Advocate:
In 2015, after I, a person on the autism spectrum, left my career as a certified public accountant and took on a career in autism advocacy, I created a mantra that I live by to this day: Know Yourself. Love Yourself. Be Yourself. This mantra would become the basis for my first book, Come To Life! Your Guide to Self-Discovery, which contains my secrets to success.
As I’ve watched society’s conversation on autism evolve over the years, I can see it relating directly to the flow of my mantra. In the beginning, with respect to ‘Know Yourself,’ we as a society were, and in many ways still are, focused on autism Awareness. We acknowledged its existence, made efforts to know or gain a better understanding of what it is, and how it impacts people, both on and off the spectrum. Unfortunately, many saw, and sadly some still see, autism as a disease, curse, or something else that had to be ‘cured.’
Rather than make attempts to change or eliminate people on the autism spectrum, it’s imperative that we love and accept them for who they are.
This led to a shift in the perspective of how the world sees autism, spearheaded by those on the autism spectrum themselves. Rather than be seen as ‘ill,’ ‘less,’ or ‘victims,’ they strived to be seen as equals amongst their peers and fought for autism Acceptance. After all, people on the autism spectrum, like everyone else, are very much worthy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Rather than make attempts to change or eliminate people on the autism spectrum, it’s imperative that we love and accept them for who they are. Speaking from personal experience, I couldn’t accept my autism diagnosis at 13 years old until I knew my parents had. Once you ‘Love Yourself,’ others will love you in return. The journey to self-acceptance is one that often requires others including the person on the autism spectrum, rather than assuming he/she isn’t interested or won’t succeed.
On that note, it’s time to take the narrative one step further…from one of acceptance…to one of ACTION! Taking a genuine interest in and taking action towards the success and well-being of people on the autism spectrum can drastically improve and even save their lives! I encourage you to see less of the problems and the perils…and more of the potential and the possibilities when we embrace, include, and celebrate people on the autism spectrum as part of our society. When you are allowed to ‘Be Yourself’ and allow others to be themselves, too, we all begin to make a change for the better in the world.
About the Author:
Thomas Iland is the owner of Come To Life Coaching based in Los Angeles, California. He’s an award-winning author, speaker, coach, and consultant. He has spoken at the United Nations, given a TEDx Talk titled “How To Come To Life,” earned a Certified Human Potential Coach and Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker designations, and recently won Junior Chamber International’s “Ten Outstanding Young Americans” award.
“Life doesn’t come to you…it’s up to YOU…to COME TO LIFE!” -Thomas Iland
