Awareness to Appreciation: Navigating Autism in April and Beyond

James Gutman reflects on Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation Month, sharing personal insights as the father of Lucas, his 14-year-old nonverbal son with autism. He explores how language creates conflict even among those advocating for people with autism, while emphasizing that his son's non-verbal communication has shown him how "overrated" words can be.• Terminology matters but creates division—"child with autism" vs "autistic"• Autism Awareness helps others understand behaviors like unexpected loud noises or clapping• Autism Acceptance benefits those seeking inclusion in workplaces, schools and social settings• Autism Appreciation recognizes beautiful qualities like honesty and authenticity across the spectrum• Lucas demonstrates refreshing directness—wanting only what he truly wants without social pretense• Avoiding both superhero narratives and disability-focused labels helps see the whole personPre-order James' new book "Hi World, I'm Dad: A Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation" now on Amazon, available in stores this June.It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print.Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.