April 1st through April 30th is Autism Awareness Month—a month where we celebrate diversity and the unique strengths of individuals. Autism Awareness Month began in April 1970 when psychologist Bernard Rimland and the Autism Society of America (ASA) started efforts to raise awareness. Bernard chose April to coincide with spring and his son’s birthday, eventually leading to a presidential proclamation in 1988. In April 1988, President Ronald Reagan issued the first presidential proclamation declaring April as National Autism Awareness Month. This was significant progress and began a new era of awareness, which opened opportunities for people with autism to live fuller and more productive lives. Although the Autism Society didn’t formally adopt the term Autism Acceptance Month until 2021, marking a shift towards public recognition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD. This important month is a time dedicated to fostering understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum. Autism Awareness Month is intended to help shift from awareness to active acceptance and promote a more inclusive society. Accepting others helps us highlight their unique strengths, talents, and tributes. Every April, everyone should help create an inclusive and inviting space here at McAuliffe. We strive to move beyond simple awareness and to have an all-inclusive, trustworthy campus.