David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D
Association for Science in Autism Treatment

Autism Awareness and AcceptanceApril is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Infinity symbols, puzzle pieces, and calls to light it up blue will appear on thousands of social media pages and billboards, and the media will give greater attention to autism. Further awareness is wonderful, as detection and diagnosis are necessary first steps to accessing critical help in the forms of treatment, information, and support. With well over 500 treatments from which to choose, parents and caregivers of children with autism need guidance, tools, and accurate information to empower them to make the best possible choices for their children as these choices will undoubtedly have a profound impact on both their current quality of life and their children’s future and potential.

When I first entered the field over 35 years ago, autism was considered a rare condition and a low incidence disability. When people asked what I did for a living, they often misheard me and thought I said that I worked with “artistic” children. I received that response a lot. Clearly, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is no longer the rare diagnosis that it once was. With the incidence of one in 36 children, so many of our own families, neighbors, and co-workers are touched by autism. In fact, the sheer numbers have heightened awareness of autism in and of themselves. This broader awareness is essential: it promotes early detection, and with early detection, we hope for a relatively clearer course toward effective intervention and ultimately better outcomes.

Sadly, however, early detection of autism alone does not provide a seamless path to intervention. Furthermore, families whose children are diagnosed with autism are still not able to access the most effective science-based treatments available expeditiously. Instead, families are often distracted by scores of pseudoscientific treatments until they arrive at the most effective interventions supported by peer-reviewed research to address the complexities of autism. Furthermore, other barriers such as lack of providers in their area and long waiting lists may lead families to consider a pseudoscientific treatment if accessing it is quicker or easier.

We must do better! “Autism Awareness” should involve more than just detection and diagnosis. “Autism Acceptance” should involve more than just tolerance or simply advocating for inclusion in the absence of any investment or commitment. At the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT), it has always been our hope that the conversation around autism awareness and acceptance would be broadened to focus on directly addressing the obstacles that separate individuals with autism from receiving effective, science-based intervention, to receiving the supports that are needed (across the lifespan), to ensuring that they are just not invited but truly welcomed at the table, and on combatting the misinformation that distracts individuals with autism, families, caregivers, and teachers from accessing accurate information. And this important work is needed year-round, not just during the month of April when it is popular and easy to signal support for the autism community.

Below I offer you 12 perspectives about what “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” should be about, along with several ways ASAT can assist families and providers alike in navigating the complex maze of autism treatment options. Please know that there are many voices in the autism community, comprising providers, family members, and autistic individuals. While my points are meant to foster discussion and understanding, these priorities may not resonate with everyone and are certainly not exhaustive. I encourage others to share their priorities as well. It is important to acknowledge and respect the diverse perspectives within the neurodiversity community.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must recognize that the spectrum of autism is wide and that if you know one person with autism, you only know one person with autism.

In recent years, the autism community has witnessed and benefited from the rising voices of individuals who identify as autistic and who have expressed an array of views on their lived experiences. Although some have been diagnosed later in life and did not receive autism intervention or special education services and accommodations, many have shared both positive and negative accounts of what it was like to access services when they were younger. Among the many lessons to be learned is the importance of fully including the person with autism in goal selection and intervention choices and any and all decisions in between (as well as to carefully consider how we are empowering autistic individuals to have agency and an authentic voice when communicating their wants and needs in the first place). These important conversations have been insightful, transformational, and, at times, unsettling as we own our missteps and generate a path forward. Many professionals have shared shifts in preconceived notions, priorities, and perspectives. We do better when we truly listen.

Respect for divergent views is the soil in which the autism community can grow so that every person with autism can obtain the experiences and help needed to live their best lives. Some light it up red, some light it up blue, some say a person with autism, some say autistic person and it is all OK. While considering and respecting these preferences is important, there is also other important work to be done. All this work will be more achievable if there is more compassion and less judgement.

Another important lesson is that given the tremendous diversity we see in individuals with autism, with respect to strengths, challenges, and needs, no one individual has the experience and authority to speak for all, particularly when we are considering individuals with ASD who require 24/7 support and supervision. Many parents have shared views that their children with more significant needs are being overlooked (e.g., Ursitti, 2022 and as reflected in my interview with Eileen Lamb). We must do all we can to meet the needs of the members of the autism community with the most intensive and enduring needs. While every voice is important, we have to be mindful that one voice should not eclipse another.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must include a differentiation of effective treatments that are scientifically validated from the plethora of “therapies” and “cures” lacking scientific support. Such distinction is critical.

Autism treatment is a billion-dollar industry. For the majority of the 500+ available interventions, science is overlooked in favor of pseudoscience, marketed using heart-wrenching testimonials, anecdotes, and video montages. These interventions are often bolstered with poorly crafted and misleading surveys that masquerade as legitimate scientific research. Many interventions boast inaccurate and even outrageous claims that are touted as evidence of effectiveness. Marketing of these so-called “therapies” and “cures” is unambiguously aggressive in nature and can be so overwhelming that it drowns out accurate information for those parents desperate to help their children access the very best treatment. We are in a time when the word for any experience can be placed before the word “therapy” and pushed forth as a “bona fide treatment” (e.g., Legos, llamas, bleach, sand, magnets, lavender oil, surfing, and even Shakespeare, to name but a few examples). Think about how confusing that may be for many consumers.

For most other medical conditions, a medical provider who disregards a proven intervention in favor of using a “fringe” treatment may be sued for malpractice! Sadly, such safeguards are not well established for autism treatment. We do no favors for children with autism, their families, and those responsible for providing needed services when we not only ignore junk science but allow it to proliferate by failing to counter baseless claims. Families deserve better. Individuals with autism deserve better.

Visit our website to learn more about the scientific support behind various autism treatments, the relevance of peer-reviewed research, the pitfalls of testimonials, as well as many other articles related to becoming a savvy consumer.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must recognize our collective responsibility to make sound choices.

As adults, voters, consumers, providers, and parents, choice underlies all our decisions. We have a right to make these decisions, even poorly; however, when we hold the futures of individuals with autism in our hands, decision-making power comes with tremendous responsibility – a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. There are numerous “decision-makers” whose choices have profound implications for children and adults with autism – not just autistic individuals but their parents, siblings, teachers, treatment providers, administrators, program coordinators, and taxpayers.

      • Individuals and their family members must exercise caution to make the best possible choice when sorting through autism treatment options, particularly since many providers do not make the path to effective treatment clear and simple. ASAT has offered many articles that speak to this challenge including this one on how to explain choices that are being made to other family members and how to stand for science on social media.
      • Scientists need to take responsibility in making their findings about an intervention’s effectiveness clear, unambiguous, and devoid of exaggeration. Efforts should be made to promote replication, clarify which segment of the autism population would benefit from the intervention, articulate directions for needed future research, and to participate in peer review to the fullest extent (rather than bypass it altogether). Lastly, they should take steps to include those on the spectrum with the highest needs as well as from marginalized communities who are often excluded from research.
      • Administrators and program leaders need to take responsibility for identifying internal and external training opportunities that further their staff’s competence with evidence-based practice. Additionally, they should make sure their staff receives the support needed to sustain these efforts and to continually engage in data-based decision-making when both selecting and monitoring Decision makers must be savvy and selective in their choice of training for their staff and not fall prey to gimmicks, splashy sales pitches, or fads.
      • Providers must select procedures that are based on published research, adhere to their discipline’s code of ethics about evidence-based practices, and maintain a commitment to ensure that parents and to the extent possible autistic individuals have truly been given the opportunity to provide informed consent. In short, if there is no scientific evidence to support an intervention that one is using, the professional is ethically obligated to inform consumers of this lack of evidence. In addition, providers should aspire to hire the right kind of people. Those employees must have integrity, compassion, a strong work ethic, the right attitude, and a thirst to always improve their repertoire of skills.

There are far too many individuals with autism who do not have access to effective treatment, receive ineffective treatment, or are subjected to treatments that are, in fact, dangerous. Every minute of ineffective intervention is one less minute spent accessing effective intervention. Every dollar spent on an intervention that does not work, takes a dollar away from an intervention that does work. Choices made have profound implications; therefore, the importance of choosing wisely cannot be overstated. Such choices should be informed by science and guided by data.

Please see our webpage for parents and a special section on becoming a savvy consumer which includes over a dozen articles in our “Is There Science Behind That” series. In this special section, you will also find an article on questions to ask marketers/providers so you can make sure that the individual with autism in your life is receiving science-based treatment, as well as questions that you can ask yourself.

You can also read more about the three phases of inquiry about particular interventions and their associated questions and considerations in the Road Less Traveled: Charting a Clear Course for Autism Treatment.

Phase I: Exploring the viability and merit of a particular treatment approach.

Phase II: Assessing the appropriateness of an intervention under the supervision and guidance of a specific service provider for a specific individual with autism.

Phase III: Monitoring the implementation of the treatment and evaluating effectiveness.

The questions listed for each phase not only can guide decision making but may occasion conversations that can lead to stronger collaborations and better outcomes.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” efforts must alert and remind the community that available information on the internet (and actual information from providers) varies greatly in accuracy, and, in fact, may be completely wrong. This point cannot be overstated.

As we know, not all information on the Internet is reliable and accurate and this is worrisome when you are looking to that information to make important decisions that can impact you and a loved one. You have probably heard the term, caveat emptor (“Let the buyer beware”). Consumers must also practice caveat lector (“Let the reader beware”). Often, internet information is deemed equivalent in relevance, importance, and validity to research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, but it is not. Testimonials and uncontrolled studies from so-called researchers can lead parents astray and be a tremendous source of distraction.

Parents of newly diagnosed children may be particularly vulnerable. They need to know the red flags to avoid and learn how to evaluate research. Our library of articles highlights scientific concepts and methods as they relate to potential autism interventions, with the goal of providing families, educators, and clinicians with the information they need in order to be savvy consumers of marketed treatment products and therapies. We also published an article that showcases position statements about specific treatments such as Facilitated Communication and cannabis to name a few.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must include solid reporting by journalists and other members of the media community who embrace their role as “public educators” and who are committed to spreading accurate information.

There are scores of “miracle cures” and “breakthroughs” for autism that receive widespread media attention (e.g., print and online news outlets, radio and television programs), even if these treatments have not been shown to be beneficial through peer-reviewed, published research. Unfortunately, effective treatments may receive less media coverage because their providers often focus more on outcomes than on garnering media attention. Things are not likely to improve in terms of access to effective treatment for the autism community without more accurate and abundant representations of autism treatment in the media.

The media has a responsibility to scrutinize sensational claims related to a proposed treatment and to be knowledgeable enough to report on those treatments with healthy skepticism and objectivity. Such scrutiny can be accomplished by members of the media asking important questions such as:

      • Who am I interviewing for this story, and what are their qualifications? What do they stand to gain from this interview?
      • Are there any published research articles documenting the efficacy of the intervention method featured in my article? If not, should I proceed with this story?
      • What are the benefits touted by those who provide this intervention? What does this look like? How does it improve the quality of life for the person with autism? Their family?
      • Is there any evidence of harm associated with this intervention? What are the risks?
      • What are the costs? How is this paid for?
      • What kind of education, training, and supervision do treatment providers need to have before implementing the intervention?
      • Would my final article encourage false hope or suggest unrealistic benefits?

If you are interested in other questions to be considered when approaching a potential story, please review this article.

To support accuracy in the media, ASAT has developed a webpage for journalists. For examples of accurate and inaccurate reporting, please learn more about our Media Corner campaign, review resources about science journalism, read about the relationship between journalism ethics and autism treatment, and peruse our bank of archived letters. You will find that some of these letters showcase and celebrate accurate media representations whereas others highlight concerns about inaccurate representations.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must recognize the critical need for newly diagnosed children to access effective treatment as soon as possible. We know that early intervention makes a huge difference.

For many conditions, such as Lyme disease and breast cancer, awareness is essential because awareness promotes detection, and with detection comes relatively clear paths toward well-established and evidence-based treatments. Optimal prognoses are often associated with early detection. Within a few short weeks of proper diagnosis, individuals have the opportunity to receive the best treatment that science has to offer. If their conditions are not detected early, access to such treatments is delayed and their conditions may worsen.

With autism, the story is very different as detection is not the “be all and end all.” There may be long delays between initial detection and diagnosis. Unfortunately, even at the time of diagnosis, many children with autism are not accessing the best that science has to offer, and their families are bombarded with solicitations to partake in any number of the 500+ autism treatments, most of which do not have an iota of scientific support.

While individuals with autism learn and progress across their lifespan, it is widely understood that the earlier intervention begins, the greater the potential for an optimal outcome. Learning more about the research basis for early intervention is crucial. It is also important to remember the limited window of time there is to prepare children for the “least restrictive setting” once they enter the school system.

The fact that resources allocated early can save a tremendous number of resources over an individual’s lifespan does not always enter the conversation when evaluating costs and benefits. These conversations must change. These long-term savings should become an integral part of the discussion about the appropriateness of intensive early intervention. Children’s futures hang in the balance and providing them with an effective early intervention experience can lead them towards better outcomes. Please see the following articles on the ASAT website:

We also recently published an annotated list of ASAT articles that might be of interest to parents of newly diagnosed children, as well as an annotated list of other websites.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” should also instill hope for a better tomorrow for those individuals who are not part of the “best outcome” group.

With the right treatment and preparation for adolescence and adulthood, all individuals with autism demonstrate improvement, and many go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Much of the conversation about treatment, however, focuses on “best outcomes” and this is often defined as entering “mainstreamed” education settings or losing the diagnosis of autism altogether. This point may delegitimize the significant progress made by most individuals with autism, whose outcomes may be different, but are no less important and meaningful. I am very grateful for the advocacy of parents and professionals (e.g., Profound Autism Alliance and the National Council on Severe Autism) who are advancing the visibility of those with profound autism, a term that is sorely needed.

We know, for example, with intensive intervention based on applied behavior analysis (ABA), individuals with autism learn to live and work in the community, access faith communities, fully participate in routine healthcare, enjoy a range of recreational pursuits including a commitment to fitness and water safety, become independent in their self-care needs, have meaningful relationships, and are active, contributing members of their communities. The relevance of such gains must be recognized as a significant benefit of effective treatment and are important conversations to have, particularly at a time when some vocal bloggers are viciously maligning any and all treatment efforts as abusive, immoral, or otherwise unethical. This maligning includes the denigration of parents who only want to help their children realize their fullest potential with an joyful quality of life.

Autism awareness should also include a celebration of a broad array of outcomes as was touched upon in our recent interviews with Eileen Lamb and Catherine Maurice, author of Let Me Hear Your Voice, as well as editor of a number of other titles. Please also visit our Perspectives page which shares the views of some parents such as Judith Ursitti and highlights success stories of young people with autism, who are not necessarily in the best outcome group, carving out sustainable vocational experiences.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must mandate accountability from all treatment providers regardless of discipline.

Accountability involves a shared commitment to objectively defined targets, data collection, and respect for the scientific method. It is every provider’s responsibility to objectively measure outcomes. No one should get a pass on accountability. No one is excused from defining their target and objectively measuring progress. No one should get away with implementing their intervention carelessly, without accountability, and in a non-transparent manner. No one should be permitted to boast claims that they cannot demonstrate through data. Yet, many providers, not just those who provide pseudoscientific interventions, but those who provide evidence-based treatment of poor quality, are capable of boasting unsupported claims.

Providers using interventions that lack scientific support have an ethical obligation to share this fact with consumers, and to exercise caution in making claims about outcomes. Far too often, applications of interventions that lack any scientific support are carried out in a manner devoid of transparency and objective measures to substantiate claims of the treatment’s success. This lack of transparency must also not be tolerated. Providers must make sound, scientifically-validated decisions, and recommendations. Please visit our website for more information about ethics and evidence-based practice (including this book review of Practical Ethics for Effective Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders). Please see Principles # 1 and # 2 of the Ethical Code for Occupational Therapists, Principle of Ethics I, Rule M and Principle of Ethics II, Rule A of the ASHA Code of Ethics, Section 2.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, and Section 2 of the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts. We also published this paper exploring the nexus of journalism ethics and autism treatment.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” must involve recognition that an abundance of clinical research already exists, and this body of research matters.

In the world of autism intervention, peer-reviewed research, which should guide and inform treatment efforts, is too often disregarded or ignored altogether. Imagine a world in which it was deemed acceptable for mainstream cancer providers to treat childhood leukemia with methods they preferred without any consideration of already published research as if did not even exist. Sadly, that is the reality of autism treatment, as many providers use their personally preferred methods, what comes easy for them, often divorced from scientific support and then often carried out without any objective means to assess benefit (e.g., objective data collection).

If treatment providers and consumers are interested in published research on diverse topics such as improving conversation skills, promoting academic skills, eliminating self-injurious behavior, increasing food repertoires, or developing a tolerance for healthcare procedures, they can find it (see this helpful article for strategies on conducting a literature review and accessing article databases). Sadly, these peer-reviewed studies are often not accessed by treatment providers and caregivers. Thousands of researchers and experts in their fields have published their findings in peer-reviewed journals that can guide autism treatment, yet their findings are often overshadowed by media representations and clever and splashy marketing that put sensationalism about the “next big thing” in autism treatment over objective scientific research. Please visit our website often to read our ever-increasing number of research synopses, a vast library of treatment summaries, and our growing library of Science Corner articles.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” should help us identify and overcome the barriers that families and individuals with autism face even within their own communities.

Not every child with autism is invited to birthday parties. Not every faith community welcomes families of children with autism. Not every school provides meaningful contact between students with autism and their typically developing peers. Not every community provides recreational and other important social opportunities for individuals with autism. Not every child has access to timely evaluation and intervention, particularly children of color, those who live in rural or economically disenfranchised communities, and those who live in countries where access is not adequately supported by legislation, mandates, provider pools, and resources necessary for proper care. It is crucial that our efforts in raising autism awareness and acceptance not only highlight these disparities but also advocate for the changes needed to create a more inclusive and supportive world for all individuals with autism, no matter where they fall on the spectrum.

Like all families, those with children with autism want to be able to live comfortably and fully within their communities. Living comfortably and fully may mean simply going to the park, enjoying play dates, attending religious services, accessing routine medical care, going to the movies with friends, or eating at a restaurant with their family. Unfortunately, many families are not able to access these activities because the community is not sufficiently informed or prepared to include individuals with autism within these settings. In some cases, the children are not taught how to manage these situations well due to ineffective treatments. As a result, families of individuals with autism are often isolated, particularly as children age. This lack of opportunity is both a function of misinformation about autism and the lack of awareness about the successful efforts of those who have overcome such barriers. With one in 36 children being diagnosed, every facet of society should become aware of the support necessary for individuals with autism to succeed within their communities. Increasing awareness could involve accessing information about success stories, receiving education and training, and open dialogue with individuals and families about what could be helpful. It would be prudent if every facet of society evaluated what they are doing to support individuals with autism, what they are not doing, and what they could be doing differently, particularly to address the ethnic and racial disparities that are sadly so prevalent.

The autism community will be better served if we all made a commitment to the following notion: We want to be more accepting today than we were yesterday, but not as much as we will be tomorrow.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” is needed worldwide. In many countries, families of individuals with autism face incredible challenges and barriers.

As a US-based organization, we recognize the many benefits that exist here in our country. These include, although are not limited to, well-established special education laws, the lion’s share of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), providers from other disciplines who are committed to science-based practice, and a long history of the conversation about best practices. This is in contrast to the experience of families of children with autism residing in many other countries. These families are often offered outdated therapies such as psychoanalysis, have very limited resources, face stigma and rejection within their communities, may encounter a professional community that has low expectations about what may be possible and lack the support of laws mandating even adequate treatment and education. Providers eager to learn and use best practices will face limited education and training opportunities, a dearth of accessible supervisors, and struggle to access supporting professional networks. In some countries, the social and economic conditions may be so poor that autism treatment is relegated to being a lower priority which in many cases means receiving no services at all. We recently published this article about how our resources can support the efforts of international behavior analysts and are heartened with the growth and development of international credentialling bodies (e.g., International Behavior Analysis Organization® and Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board).

We believe that knowledge is power and that a global community of savvy and informed consumers can help shape the landscape of effective intervention. Please note that we have flyers about our website and our monthly publication, Science in Autism Treatment, in 24 languages including Arabic, Armenian, Bangla, Bulgarian, Brazilian Portuguese, French, French Canadian, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Malay, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. If you are interested in distributing our translated materials, please write to us at info@asatonline.org.

At the bottom of every page on our website, we make it easy to disseminate our content through a variety of social media platforms. Please also note the Google language translation option in the upper right-hand corner of our webpage.

  1. “Autism Awareness and Acceptance” should be about the reality that the hundreds of thousands of children with autism will become hundreds of thousands of young adults with autism; unfortunately, we remain woefully ill-prepared to meet their needs.

When children with autism become adults (at the age of twenty-one in the U.S.), funding for services drastically changes. As a result, there are very few quality programs for adults with autism. We are facing a crisis in the field, with a scarcity of services for adults with autism and the absence of a clear strategy for closing the gap between the ever-increasing need, and an unprepared body of available resources. Quality evidence-based services for individuals with autism must continue into the adult years. Research indicates that interventions such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) can effectively help adolescents and adults with autism continue to work toward their fullest potential. The conversation about “cure” often delegitimizes and derails important conversations about how we can help individuals with autism live and work independently, develop meaningful relationships, reduce challenging behaviors that may limit opportunities, access faith communities, and enjoy the array of recreational pursuits that are available locally. Those are crucial conversations to have so that all members of the autism community can have lives which bring joy, independence, and purpose. A huge part of this conversation must be to plan for and engage in all of the smaller conversations about how we are truly preparing young people with autism for decades of life as an adult by harnessing strengths, considering cultural, linguistic, and community factors, and maximizing assent.

At ASAT, we have broadened our scope so that we can be a part of this important and essential dialogue and have written extensively about that commitment. In response to the needs of families of older children and adults, we are also continuing to add to our webpage that addresses lifespan topics, Here, one can learn about maximizing employment opportunities, strategies to support older learners, and transitioning to adulthood.

We are expanding our collection of clinical corner articles on lifespan topics and research synopses that include adolescent and adult participants with autism. Finally, we have written about this topic extensively within Media Watch. Please see the following examples of some of our letters related to lifespan topics:

I hope these 12 calls to action have furthered your appreciation of the complexities and nuances surrounding autism awareness. We all play a role in advancing science, bettering the lives of individuals with autism, and helping their families and supporters become skilled and savvy consumers. Embrace that role with an eye toward identifying what additional steps you can take to become a contributor to important discussions and an even bigger part of the solution. There is much more important work to be done to promote access to science-based treatment, to improve outcomes, to promote access, to ensure data-based decision-making, and to essentially keep science at the forefront of every conversation about autism treatment.

For more information on how to join ASAT and be part of the solution, please subscribe to Science in Autism Treatment, visit our website, and follow us on Facebook. Learn more about how to become a sponsor, volunteer, or extern. Or you can support our work by making a donation. Join us in making a difference in our global autism community!

Reference for this article:

Celiberti, D. (2025). What autism awareness should be about. Science in Autism Treatment, 22(4).

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