For Alicia Morris and her family, April is all about building acceptance through raising awareness.

She says simple misunderstandings can lead to bigger challenges, and the goal of this month is for as many people to learn a little more about autism as possible. She's an advocate through the organization FEAT of CNY, who provide resources to families of autistic children, especially during the early stages of diagnosis.

What You Need To Know

  • One child in every 68 is diagnosed with autism or a related disorder, according to the CDC

  • Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States

  • Today, Autism Spectrum Disorder is more common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined

Morris says one of the more difficult parts of educating about the disorder is that it is such a wide spectrum; every child is so unique in how autism presents itself. For many families, talking about it can be difficult at first, but the more it's discussed, the more people can learn to accept it, and the children and adults who live with it.

"We didn't tell family for a while because we didn't know how they were going to accept it, or how they were going to think of it," Morris says. "We didn't want them to get the wrong idea. That's where autism awareness comes into play, is we need to educate them that he's smart. He can't talk right now, but he might be able to one day. He's happy, he loves people, he loves you, and you just have to keep spreading the awareness that everything is going to be OK."

FEAT of CNY resources can be found on its website.