30 Autism Awareness Month Activities for Schools

If you, an educator, school administrator, or committee leader, are looking to celebrate National Autism Awareness Month, then keep reading!  Below are 30 different ways schools can celebrate the month of April.  

World Autism Awareness Day occurs on April 2nd of each year. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly identified April 2nd as the specific day to increase awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.  

From Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance

As you may notice in the brief history of autism awareness day, the language has shifted from awareness to acceptance, with some using Autism Acceptance Month instead of awareness.  While there are different ways to label the day and month to talk about and spotlight the research, skills, and abilities of autistic people, the shift is intentional and well-meaning.  By definition, awareness is 'knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists,' whereas acceptance is defined as giving 'admittance or approval to.'   These two terms, awareness and acceptance, will be used interchangeably through this blog post as the goal is share ideas for ways to uplift the autism community.  

Beyond the Puzzle Piece and Autism Speaks Blue Lights

I'm setting the tone for this part of the blog post: when we know better, we do better.  Schools, I believe, will be leading with good intentions, no matter how they choose to recognize and celebrate Autism Awareness Day/Month.  However, it is important to note that ways that it may have been celebrated in the past may not align with the goals of today's autistic community.  Self-advocates with autism have clearly voiced their disapproval of Autism Speaks, the Light It Up Blue initiative, and the puzzle piece symbol (which you can read about HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).  While I do not identify as someone with autism, I respect when people stand up for and voice what they want and don't want, especially when it is used to identify them personally.  So, take a moment and reflect if any of the past ways you have celebrated Autism Awareness/Autism Acceptance day or month should be updated to reflect what the autistic community would prefer.  

30 Activities for Celebrating Autism Awareness/Autism Acceptance Day and Month

10 School-Wide Activities

1. Morning or Daily Announcements 

The building-wide morning or daily announcements are a great time to bring basic level awareness of Autism Awareness/Autism Acceptance Month to students and staff.  Use the ideas shared below in this blog post to highlight other ways to build a strong foundation of both awareness and acceptance with and for the students in your school community.  

2. Schools Social Media Post

Another easy way to acknowledge the start of this important month is to make a post on your school's social media pages about autism awareness month.  While additional activities will help to foster more meaningful awareness and acceptance, your school and local community may appreciate this simple recognition of the importance of the month.  

Tip: Read the note above about the puzzle piece and blue color before posting.

3. Showcase Skills and Strengths

April is the perfect time to allocate a prominent bulletin board, weekly newsletter column, or display cabinet by the main entrance to the work or special accomplishments of the students with autism in your school.  Confirm with students and parents before associating their students' names, work, and achievements with the highlighted work to ensure they are comfortable with the recognition.  

4. Introduce the Infinity Symbol

Many associate the puzzle piece with autism awareness (including Autism Speaks), the infinity symbol is now the more widely accepted symbol for autism acceptance.  The autistic community was outspoken about their feelings regarding the puzzle piece in years past, noting that they don't feel that any part of them is missing or out of place, which a puzzle piece can represent, and that the design of the puzzle piece could be interpreted as signaling it impacts only autistic children and not an older population, which is untrue.  The community expressed support for the infinity symbol instead.  A rainbow infinity shows acceptance of neurodiversity, which autism falls under, and an all gold infinity symbol shows acceptance specifically for autism.  

*Tip: Check your existing marketing around Autism Acceptance and Autism Awareness Month and swap puzzle pieces for infinity symbols.  

5. Wear the Rainbow or Gold

As mentioned above in #4 ↑, the infinity symbols are welcomed by the autism community.  A gold or rainbow ribbon or accessories can be displayed on school grounds or distributed to staff to wear to show support for the month.  

6. Provide Staff Training to Building-Wide Support Staff 

Teachers, support staff, and paraprofessionals in special education classrooms are often the target audience; however, custodial, school resource officers, lunch staff, club sponsors, and sports team coaches are also part of the broader school community and would benefit from training on how to support students with autism, including use of community devices or behavior intervention plan supports.  Even if these staff don't have specific teaching responsibilities, they are likely to come into contact with students with autism through everyday situations and having background knowledge on how to best support this student population can provide a safer and more comfortable school environment for everyone.  

7. Highlight Autism Organizations to Support through Donations and Volunteerism 

Students and student groups may be interested in ways to donate or volunteer to organizations that support individuals with autism.  Whether the organization being supported is local to the school, community, state, or nationwide, finding a great cause to contribute financially or with time and energy is worthy work.  

8. Provide a Safe Way to Ask Questions

Schools are a safe place for many students.  Since we learn best through genuine curiosity, having an anonymous question box where students (and staff) can safely ask questions about autism can be a great way to share specific information with the general student population.  Consider asking Special Education Staff/Administration to answer these questions, then share the responses during daily announcements.  An attentive audience is the best way for everyone to be on the same page! 

9. Share A Siblings Point of View 

Hearing a story from someone with lived experience is powerful.  If there are siblings of students with autism in your school community, consider reaching out and asking them to share their experiences.  The siblings, if they are comfortable, can share what it means to have a sibling with autism, how their friends show that they are welcoming of their brother or sister with special needs, and what they love most about their sibling and the autistic community.  Again, gain permission from the student, their sibling, and family before sharing personal stories with others. 

10. Recognize what Autism is NOT 

Just as important as welcoming individuals with autism is helping the general student population learn a more accurate understanding of autism, specifically, what autism is not.  There is a saying that if you've met one person with autism, then you've met one person with autism.  Autism is a spectrum and it is important to help the general student population to understand that autism can look many different ways.  Helping to safely and calmly dispel any myths they may have about autism can help them to be more accepting of those with autism.  

10 Activities for Students with Autism

1. Write Thank You Cards to Those Who Accept Individuals with Autism Everyday

Students who feel comfortable acknowledging the staff, peers, family, and friends who support and accept them for exactly who they are can write notes of appreciation.  Consider creating or shopping for (life skill practice opportunity!) cards that express Thanks and Thinking of You and adding in handwritten (or typed and taped) notes recognizing those who accept and support them for exactly who they are. It can help the student learn about their circle of support and kindly notice those who already accept them day in and day out.   

2. Increase Awareness of Famous People with Autism

Celebrities/Athletes/Professionals, they are just like us!  If you are reading this blog post, then you know autism isn't a bad word, it's one part of who someone is.  People with autism are amazing people and have the ability to do great things every day in the public eye.  Taking a moment to recognize famous people who have personally and publically expressed that they have autism can show students what is possible.  Seeing that someone else with autism has achieved what you want to achieve one day can be very powerful for students.  

Examples: Tony Snell, Bill Gates, Chloe Hayden

3. "What I Love About Me..." 

Students can write or adhere pictures they print from their camera roll or cut from a publication to highlight what they love about themselves, no fancy template needed!  Spend a class period or two, allowing students to reflect on themselves and assist them in identifying their strengths and what they love about themselves.  Then, consider a parade of greatness by having each student share their realizations or creations with their peers in class.  

10. "I am autistic." 

There is power in self-awareness. Lessons focused on helping students to understand and name their disability should be navigated with care and patience.  However, once students know and can verbalize/communicate their disability, especially when they are asking for support or to inform someone else, can have a positive ripple effect.  As with helping any student learn about and better understand themselves and their disability, be sure to seek permission from the educational decision-makers and/or parents.  

5. Invite Peer Teams and Clubs to Support Special Olympics Teams 

If your class participates in Special Olympic sports, then consider writing and sending personal invitations to other coaches and teams in your school to come watch a game.  Provide game locations, dates, and times to encourage group attendance.  While 'anyone can come to watch a game anytime' is the blanket belief; when people receive a personal invitation, it becomes a higher priority.  Having a larger crowd of peers can affirm and encourage participants.  

 6. Give Back

Giving back is a way to build community to allow people to find ways to support others they may or may not know.  Giving back is a practice of reciprocity.  Giving back will look different for each school and community, so determine what your local community needs most and what would be possible for your students to provide to give back in the most meaningful and appropriate way.   Giving back can be a one-time support or recurring event, both are important and appreciated.  

7. Watch Love on the Spectrum

With approval from the administration, consider watching the show Love on the Spectrum (streaming subscription may be required).  The show documents young adults with autism while they look for love.  While the show can be used as a model for relationship types and communication skills, students may find similarities between the individuals on the show and their own experiences.  Bonus points for creating a comfortable environment (both emotionally and for the physical classroom space) to watch an episode and discuss what happened. 

8. Listen to Audiobooks about Other Autistic Experiences 

If there isn't time to read and analyze a whole novel in your already packed lesson plans, consider offering a list of audiobooks students could consume during leisure time in or outside of class.  Authors with autism who write about their personal experiences should be celebrated for their vulnerability, and it can be powerful for students to hear firsthand someone else's autistic experience.  

Tips*: But You Don't Look Autistic At All by Bianca Toeps, Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden, What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic by Annie Kotowicz

9. Watch Shows with Autistic Characters 

With approved and appropriate use, consider showing clips highlighting characters from shows or movies that are openly autistic.  It may be rare for a student with autism to see someone like them in a prominent television or movie role.  Keep in mind that someone who is autistic playing an autistic character may be more authentic than someone who is typically developing playing a character with autism.  

Tip*: As We See It, Kayla Cromer in Monstors High, Coby Bird on The Good Doctor

10. Have a Party!

Food is always a way to celebrate a special day.  And, as mentioned in this blog post, buying yummy food from local businesses that are founded by and/or employed by individuals with autism is a meaningful and delicious way to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd!  Not only will your class appreciate a treat, but your class funds will be a vote for good.  Check out No Label at the Table if you need goodies shipped to you! 

10 Activities to Support and Recognize Individuals with Autism

1. How to Show Acceptance

It's one thing to say to accept people different than you, but it's another to show and teach what that means.  Learning the social skills to show acceptance to their peers with autism can look like allowing them to stim without verbal and nonverbal judgment, accepting their use of headphones, giving them space to pace, and allowing them to be themselves in all environments.  They can give wait time when their peer uses a communication device.  They can be kind and patient and encourage their autistic peers to join them at the lunch table, or the group conversation during a break from class, or reach out to them after school hours.  

2. Encourage Peers to Follow Autistic Creators on Social Media

If your student population is connected to social media (as most teens and young adults are these days), then bringing attention to autistic creators to follow will give students first-hand insight into someone's life who has autism.  

Tip*: Instagram: @21andSensory, @theaspieworld, Haley Moss  

3. Shift from Awareness to Acceptance 

A vocabulary lesson in the shift of Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance day is an easy and important way to address this month across a variety of general education courses.  This word shift was shared above in this blog post, but being explicit with the language and reviewing how to 'know' about something is the first layer, then to 'accept' is another layer.  Acceptance, by definition, means to willingly receive, approve, and view as true. To accept something as true, which for autism equates to accepting someone with autism and all that they are, is to show respect.  

4. Research Books from Autistic Authors 

From picture books to novels, there are books that libraries and English teachers can highlight that have been written by authors with autism.  Aside from just displaying autism books written about research, the creative and vulnerable books by autistic authors can be weaved into the curriculum, weekly lesson plans, or offered as reading for leisure.

Tip: Check out https://autismbooksbyautisticauthors.com/ for a wide variety of books written by autistic authors.  

5. Highlight Similarities 

When we learn that we are more alike than different, we can naturally be more accepting of others.  When the general student population feels their peers with autism are 'just like me,' then they are connecting on similarities and truly accepting (or even celebrating) their differences.  For example, if you have a bin of fidgets in your room or see students using them while they listen to a lecture or to occupy their hands during an activity, then bringing attention to how fidget toys help people with autism meet their sensory needs just as they have helped to address those sensory needs in the classroom.  This organic connection between using similar items for similar needs can be powerful.  

6. Spotlight What Autism Community Has Contributed to Society 

Individuals with autism have developed and created meaningful ideas, some of which make everyday life easier for those with and without autism.  No matter the teaching domain, science, foreign language, or history, educators can research how people with autism have positively contributed to their field and share those findings with their class.  

7. Remember Money Talks 

Buying what students and individuals with autism create and sell is a way to support and show acceptance.  Not only does your purchase support meaningful employment, but it is a vote for good.  From in-school small businesses selling cards and dog treats to bigger businesses that aim to employ people of all abilities, buying, referring, and leaving a positive review on Yelp/Google helps affirm acceptance.  Consider ways to re-route money you spend on Amazon or a big-box retailer to a small business with autistic employees.  

Tip:  Look for local businesses to support and check out this list of other retailers.  

8. Listen to/Watch Videos by Autistic Creators 

​If you want to support autistic creators but your budget is tight, then consider watching YouTube videos by creators and listening to their podcasts, both of which are free for consumers.  If the YouTuber has ads running before or during their video, then they are earning income from each viewer.  Similarly, when a podcaster has an ad running during their show, they also earn income.  Each download and listen supports the creator.  

YouTube*: Paige Layle, Autistic Not Weird, Neurodivergent Rebel

Podcasts*:  1800 Seconds on Autism, Autistic Girl World, Autism by Autistics

9. Peer-to-Peer Learning is Powerful

Peet-to-peer learning is one of the best methods of instruction for autistic students and can be used in any general education or special education classroom, as well as across all grade levels and extracurriculars.  When paired with learning how to show acceptance, which I shared about in #1 in this list, students can support their peers in new ways.  Also, students who practice supporting their peers who learn differently than them may transfer this skill into workplace settings later in life when they work with autistic adults.  What a powerful soft skill to learn! 

10. Easy Ways to Speak Up 

The last suggestion to celebrate autism acceptance month is for educators to help their students make a list of ways to speak up for and protect autistic individuals when they see that they are not being treated respectfully.  Use the popular saying, 'If you see something, say something,' as a way to encourage students to have language ready should they witness someone with autism not being accepted.   

Special Note: 

As mentioned in many of the ideas listed above, it is important to seek permission from students and educational guardians before sharing any student's name and their autism disability with the school or public community.  

*All media (shows, movies, etc) and content from content creators linked in this blog post have not been screened.  Readers should use discretion and personally screen the content of each media and creator they share with their school audience before posting.