April is National Autism Awareness Month and it’s a good time to promote autism awareness. And, this year the Autism Society wants to go beyond simply promoting autism awareness to encouraging friends and collaborators to become partners in movement toward acceptance and appreciation.

Raising kids is a challenging job no matter how you look at it. And when a child is diagnosed with autism, it can present even more challenges. That’s one reason why autism awareness, and encouraging friends and collaborators to become partners towards acceptance and appreciation, is so critical.

There are plenty of ways to get involved – whether you have a child with autism, you know someone who does, you are an adult with autism, or you’re just trying to make a difference for others. Here are some ideas from The Autism Society website:

• Make a difference. Contact your representatives at the state and federal levels and ask them to “Vote 4 Autism.” For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it by visiting this link.
• On April 2nd, light it up blue to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. Join the global autism community on this special day. On April 2nd, the Niagara Falls will be lit blue for a 15 minute duration from 8:30 pm to 8:45 pm in honor of World Autism Awareness Day!
• Social media is a great way to help get the word out about Light It Up Blue! For example, last year World Autism Awareness Day was trending on Facebook and Twitter.
• Consider supporting Autism Speaks! You can make a donation or even host your own fundraising event for the month!
• Create your own fundraiser.
• Learn more about autism and adults. Is It Autism and If So, What Next? A Guide for Adults was designed to help adults who suspect they may have autism, as well as those recently diagnosed with the disorder. This kit will provide an overview of autism to help you better understand the disorder and will hopefully clarify whether you should seek out a professional for a thorough evaluation.

Virginia was the first state to enact the ABLE Program in 2015. Governor Terry McAullife signed Virginia’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, HB 2306 to allow families to invest in tax-free savings accounts for disability related expenses, becoming the first state to enact the legislation since the federal ABLE Act was signed in December of 2014.