Why is advocacy important for the autism community?

Individuals with complex support needs who are severely disabled by their autism may not be able to communicate, especially during times when they are most vulnerable. Products like cameras or an identity bracelet may help safety goals to be achieved and reduce the risk of an autistic person experiencing harm. 

Individuals with masking capabilities may wish to express or celebrate their Autistic identity by championing the neurodiversity movement, or raising awareness for the social model of disability.

At The Autism Shop, we try to welcome and support all autistic people and their carers. Our staff have lived experience all around the autism spectrum and we believe everyone's experiences are valid. We support inclusive practices and policies that unite the autism community and we are committed to working on our own perspective-taking skills to ensure we continually remember that:

1) Everyone's needs are different.

2) "Different, not less."

3) What is supportive for some individuals is not supportive to other individuals, and the principle of individual choice and control needs to be respected at all times.

4) We can only be the expert on our own autism and how it impacts us.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that some of our autistic colleagues have designed some autism-awareness clothing, "coming soon" exclusively to Australia and The Autism Shop!