This May, we highlight Mental Health Awareness Month, AANHPI Heritage Month, Water Safety Month, Police Week, and suicide prevention. Our public policy resources include our Autism CARES Act Action Alert, Fact Sheets from the Disability Policy Seminar, President Biden’s Autism Acceptance Month Proclamation, and an article about the shift from awareness to acceptance.

Mental Health Awareness Month

• Autism Society Mental Health Stats
• Autism Research Institute’s Autism Mental Health Resources

 AANHPI Heritage Month

• National Statement: Autism Society Addresses Increased Autism Prevalence Rates in 2023 CDC Report
• Autism and the AAPI Communities Resource

Suicide Prevention Month

• An Overview of the 988 number for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Addressing Suicidality in Autism

Water Safety Month

• Autism Society’s Water Social Story
• Autism Society Caregiver Water Safety Checklist
• Autism Society’s Water and Wandering Digital Resource

Police Week/First Responder

• Safety on the Spectrum™: First Responder Initiative
• National Statement: The Autism Society of America Mourns the Tragic Loss of Ryan Gainer and Continues Autism Justice Center Work

Vaccine Education Initiative (VEI) 

• Vaccine Education Initiative Webpage
• Health Equity Experience Survey

Public Policy Resources

• Contact your Senators and Representatives to urge them to support the reauthorization of the Autism CARES Act.
• Learn more about the Autism CARES Act through our blog post here.
• Check out these Fact Sheets from the Disability Policy Seminar used to educate Congress.
• Read President Biden’s Autism Acceptance Month Proclamation on World Autism Acceptance Day.
• Learn more about the shift to acceptance in Disability Scoop’s “White House Embraces Autism ‘Acceptance’ Over ‘Awareness” article.

Interested in partnering with the Autism Society with our Vaccine Education Initiative program? Contact us at vei@autismsociety.org for more information.

The Autism Society’s National Helpline is here to support you and provide you with the resources you need. Our Information & Referral Specialists are available Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Eastern Time) at 800-3-AUTISM (800-328-8476) or info@autism-society.org.

The Autism Society’s mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. As the nation’s oldest leading grassroots Autism organization, the Autism Society and its 70+ local affiliates serve over half a million members of the Autism community each year. It envisions a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it – including education, advocacy efforts, and supports and services throughout the lifespan. If you found this article helpful, please consider supporting our efforts through a donation, every bit helps. Donate here!