22/04/2026
April is Autism Acceptance Month. And like many of you, I’ve found myself wondering: what does acceptance actually mean?
I recently read an article about neurodiversity that really resonated with me. It described neurodiversity a bit like a height chart.
We all have a height. Some of us sit near the average for our age, and the rest of us fall naturally across a range of percentiles.
Neurodiversity works in a very similar way. Many people are considered neurotypical, while others experience the world through different behavioural preferences, ways of thinking, and patterns of interaction that shape who they are and how they function day to day.
What I found most helpful about this comparison was the reminder that, just as I didn’t choose my height, I didn’t choose my behavioural traits either—and neither did anyone else.
For me, autism acceptance, at the very least, starts with a genuine effort to understand how someone with autism experiences the world, and how I can interact with and support them in ways that help them pursue their aims and goals.
There is still so much research to be done and so much understanding to build. It’s all too easy to dismiss neurodiversity as a modern trend or simply label it as a “condition,” without appreciating the depth and complexity of real human experience.
Many people with autism have remarkable skills and capabilities. The way they prefer to communicate, interact, or use those strengths may look different from what’s considered “mainstream,” but different does not mean wrong. It simply means different.
So as we move through April, I’d encourage us all to embrace Autism Acceptance Month with kindness and curiosity—seeking first to understand rather than judge.
If for no other reason than this: life can change any of us. Through illness, trauma, or circumstance, we may one day experience the world very differently ourselves. When that happens, we would all hope to be met with the same kindness and curiosity we offer to others today.
Contribution by Jenny Copeland, COO and Professional Performance and Transformation Coach.
Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-copeland
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