Most awareness campaigns have little to do with supports to benefit autistic adults, and it's become increasingly difficult for many self advocates to breathe through April's superficial autism frills. Is there anything to look forward to in the month of April? 

Within the autism community, April has always been known for it's one buzz word, "awareness." Not anymore. Now you will see a new kind of confirmation which helps many in our community not feel the dread of the empty campaigns that hold little value toward helping autistics and their families. What is it? One word. ACCEPTANCE. On April 2nd, and continuing throughout the month of April, autistic advocates and their allies will be spending their time making a new kind of difference by communicating about acceptance, not tolerance and pro-neurodiversity. 

Early April 2011 began with Rethinking Autism releasing their newest PSA: Autism Support Group. It was really great to see actress, and autistic advocate, Tammy Klein starring in the newly released Public Service Announcement. What an amazing message and rockin' video coming from Dana Commandatore and Michael Broderick's camp again! 

During the month of May we saw the release of one of the most widely acclaimed and honored autism documentaries, Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic. The film's director, Todd Drezner captures the diversity of autism, the community, and the many voices therein, by simultaneously shining a light on the many angles of autism and neurodiversity.

Then there were blogs, blogs and more blogs! In 2011, the autism community made an about face from years past when this year it insisted that blogging positive was the way to go for autism advocacy's future. The shining stars whom the autism community praised as 'getting it right' not only did so due to their authentic approach, but because of their honest style, and their insistence on hurting no one in the process. 

Perhaps the most buzzed about blogs are those of autistic advocate Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg's, Journeys with Autism: "Autistic Blogs" and "Positive Autism Parenting Blogs." Rachel explains, "The divide between autistics and parents can feel very deep and wide, but I’m determined to help bridge it by highlighting blogs that I feel do an excellent job of balancing the challenges of parents with respect for autistic people." 

Autism and Empathy: Dispelling Myths and Breaking Stereotypes is Rachel's other blog where she posts a variety of contributions from other bloggers as well as personally blogging herself in this richly vulnerable and honest format which lays bare the many colors of truth encompassing the autism spectrum via empathy, tolerance, and loving acceptance. 

New to the blogosphere is autistic advocate, and sex and disability blogger, Lindsey Nebeker. Lindsey's blog at Naked Brain Ink includes a recent post with an informative slideshow addressing the barriers which disabled people oftentimes face, and why sexual rights and disability advocacy matter.