Neurodiversity Celebration in April
Promoting and Encouraging Acceptance (2024)
Roughly 1 in 4 children are neurodivergent. With increased awareness of different neurotypes, more children than ever before are gaining diagnoses and need acceptance and support.
Schools have historically been designed to serve neurotypical students and train neurodivergent students to “mask” and behave neurotypically rather than to understand and accept their differences.
Neurodivergent people who have been shunned and forced to “mask” or hide their natural traits have an increased risk of clinical depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Those who embrace their neurodivergences and find community with neurodivergent peers have more positive outcomes in life!
In the past we've created a visual display of support and acceptance by choosing to wear a color. This year, we are proposing a spirit day that everyone can participate in, across the District! We will promote this to families and if you want to lift this messaging as well, that would be great!
April 25: FPS Autism Acceptance Day - WEAR RED!
When we learned that Brophy Elementary School planned an Autism Acceptance Celebration Week (April 22 - 26), we thought it would be nice to invite districtwide participation!
Please join your colleagues, students, and entire school community to wear RED on Thursday, April 25th!
Traditionally, the color worn on World Autism Awareness Day has been blue, however, members of the neurodiverse community are calling for a shift in thinking, asking allies to wear red to support autism acceptance and advocacy rather than just increased awareness. Red - Symbolizes love and support for individuals with autism. It represents the passion and dedication of those advocating for autism acceptance.
Someone who is neurodivergent behaves, thinks and learns differently compared to those who are neurotypical. This term can be used to describe an individual whose brain functions differently to what we consider “normal”. This includes people with autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia and a range of other neurodiverse conditions.
Neurodiversity - Noun: The diversity or variation of cognitive functioning in people. Everyone has a unique brain and therefore different skills, abilities, and needs.
Neurodiverse - Adjective: Describes the diversity and variation of cognitive functioning in people. Neurodiverse is typically used to describe a group of people with mixed neurotypes (for example: "Sarah is dyslexic, Caique is Autistic, Carla has ADHD and dyspraxia, and Brad and Amanda are neurotypical. Their friend group is neurodiverse!"
Neurodivergence - Noun: Cognitive functioning which is not considered "typical". For example, autism, dyslexia, mental illness, and ADHD are all examples of neurodivergence. Many neurodivergent people have multiple neurodivergences, for example Autism and prosopagnosia (or face-blindness) often but not always go together.
Neurodivergent - Adjective: Describes individual people who have a neurodivergence.
Neurodivergent Children Grow Up To Be Neurodivergent Adults - Listen To Their Voices!
When selecting neurodiversity affirming materials and content it is important to check with neurodivergent communities. Many commonly used phrases, symbols and children's books are considered to be patronizing or infantilizing at best or offensive at worst by neurodivergent adults.
When searching for children’s books about neurodiversity, search for books written by adults with neurodivergent brains (“own voices”)
Follow neurodivergent parents, educators, and professionals on social media to learn from a variety of perspectives
Refer to communities in the way that that community prefers to be referred to (i.e. Autistic people, vs. people with Down syndrome)
Although the medical model of disability disagrees, Autistic people usually capitalize Autistic but not autism in the same way that the Deaf and Blind communities capitalizes it, it is an identity.
The Framingham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (FSEPAC)
The Framingham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all-volunteer organization of parents and caregivers of children receiving special education services in the Framingham Public Schools and 766 approved private school settings. In the Framingham school system, there are more than 2000 children with Individualized Education programs (IEPs).
Whether your child is already receiving support or you are trying to determine if your child needs services, we are here to provide a parent’s perspective and connections.
Like / Follow the FSEPAC on Facebook for events, meetups, and support.