According to the CDC, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the world. While it has become more of a part of our society, as of 2019, a vast majority of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed. How do we change that? Building autism acceptance.
It is All About Building Autism Acceptance Year Round
The month of April is Autism Acceptance Month (formerly known as Autism Awareness Month), but The Alpha School believes that efforts shouldn’t be limited to just one month. Not only because it takes more than designating a particular month of the year to create real change but also because autism doesn’t look the same from one individual to the next. The more we build and practice acceptance, the more our wonderfully diverse students’ confidence will soar inside and outside the classroom.
Consider expanding your own calendar to include Autism Pride Day on June 18 or, Neurodiversity Celebration Week which is the last full week of March
No matter the day or month, instead of just being aware a person has autism, include and find ways to help develop connections to their surroundings and people around them. Through Alpha School’s calendar of events, we seek to have our students be part of so much more than just our classrooms or the academic and supportive services.
Celebrations of Autism Must Include People with Autism at any age!
It sounds odd to think that the one group most alienated by bringing attention to autism are actually people with autism. Though backed by good intentions, some of the messages come across as being incomplete or needing to be cured. Rather, people want to be seen and included as individuals with unique qualities. We work with our students and their families to:
- Use positive, inclusive language and symbolism around autism
- Center celebrations around the autistic experience and amplify autistic culture.
- Prepare students to be successful in the workplace to change the underrepresentation people with autism have today
Autism Acceptance in New Jersey
Your child sees themselves as a valuable and celebrated member of the community, and we do, too! There is nothing they cannot do with the support they have around them.
At Alpha School we think the best way to continue increasing acceptance is to help promote the voices of people with autism; our students, members of the community, and leaders in our nation. By listening, we can all learn, and together we will grow.
The staff at The Alpha School would love to get to know more about your child. So reach out and schedule a tour or reach out by phone by calling us at 732.370.1150.
Alpha School an private special education school in New Jersey
Our Mission at The Alpha School is to help all of our special needs students with the learning, social, language, and behavioral support they deserve. Our highly skilled staff are committed daily to helping each student to becoming the best they can while providing a safe and nurturing educational environment.
We would be more than happy to discuss your child’s specific needs and challenges, so please call us at 732.370.1150, or request a tour of Alpha School of Jackson, NJ located just minutes off of Route 9 and Route 195 in Ocean County.
— John Gonzalez, Principal-Alpha School, Jackson, NJ
About RKS Associates
At all the RKS Schools we pride ourselves in discovery the hidden treasures of all of our students. Our academic and support services are appropriately customized for a student unique and diverse needs so that they can reach their full potential.
Alpha School is part of special needs network of schools located in Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean County New Jersey. Since 1980 the RKS Associates schools have been leaders in helping special needs helping students with various disabilities including autism, Down's syndrome, communication, learning, social, behavioral and emotional disabilities. The range of services RKS schools provide is academic instruction and speech, occupational and physical therapies. In addition to Life Skills, Technology, and a full complement of Support Services.
