Increasing understanding and nurturing inclusive attitudes during Autism Acceptance Month

Every April is World Autism Acceptance Month — marking the importance of nurturing a greater understanding, celebrating neurodiversity, and ensuring that students on the autism spectrum feel fully supported, included and understood.

“At Regents International School Pattaya, we not only want to raise awareness about autism, we’re constantly working towards true acceptance and belonging within the school and our greater community. We know that schools play a crucial role in this journey, creating an environment where every student can thrive,” said Mr. Philip Brennan, SENCO Teacher at Regents International School Pattaya.

Why Acceptance Matters

While awareness is a good start, acceptance is about taking action. It’s about understanding the wide spectrum of autism and recognising that each student has unique strengths, needs, and ways of experiencing the world.

Mr. Brennan emphasised “By embracing acceptance we build a community where all of our differences are truly valued and nurtured.”

How to raise awareness, increase understanding and embrace acceptance at school:

• Organise assemblies, classroom discussions, and special projects focused on what autism is.
• Promote positive language by teaching students and staff to use respectful, affirming language when talking about autism. Highlight the importance of identity-first language ("autistic person") versus person-first language ("person with autism"), and respect the preferences of individuals.
• Encourage student-led initiatives. They might want to create posters, host a charity event for an autism organisation, or design a project that celebrates neurodiversity.
• Celebrate neurodiversity during Autism Acceptance Month – which is a wonderful opportunity to broaden the conversation to celebrate all forms of neurodiversity. Show students that thinking differently is a strength and it helps make the world a better place.

“True inclusion is a year-round commitment. Developing inclusive teaching practices, improving policies, and creating cultures of genuine acceptance and celebration are cornerstones for lasting positive inclusion attitudes. By championing inclusion, we empower all students to understand each other better, show empathy, and work together to create a more inclusive future.” concluded Mr. Brennan.