One advocate is using her personal experiences to spread awareness of autism and accepting differences.
Christina Van Ditto is working on educating children. She created a social story for elementary school age kids called "How To Be a Friend To Gia," and explains how her daughter Gia experiences the world with autism.
For example, Gia is sensitive to light, so she often wears sunglasses. Or if an environment is too loud, headphones can reduce overwhelming noise. She also may wave her arms and speak loudly when she’s excited.
Van Ditto says understanding these differences is important to accepting autism and building friendships.
The point of the resource is for young kids to understand autism, so they can be a friend to other children no matter the differences between them.
“I think it really will lend itself to the entire nature of being accepting, and maybe addressing bullying, and all of those things. It's really imperative to be having these conversations with these kiddos at a really young age," Van Ditto said.
Van Ditto says she’s been working with school districts to get this resource to children and teachers to bring about a more inclusive school and social environment, and how you can be a friend to someone on the spectrum.
“Autism isn’t bad; it isn’t scary. It's a brain-based difference," Van Ditto said. "So again, having information, and knowing that it's OK to not know, but once you do know, then you can do better."
Parents can get a digital version of this resource for themselves by emailing Van Ditto at christina@soulandmindevolution.com.