Celebrating World Autism Month Through Awareness
Join Our Efforts to Support Autism Speaks!
Some of us are blessed to know and be a part of someone’s life in the Autism Community; others possibly haven’t had the pleasure. So Willard Heating and Air Conditioning will spend the month of April spreading, education and resources for the community and our Willard Community of Customers leveraging our website and social media.
Every human being in our community adds value. Like everyone else, individuals with autism are not defined by only one part of their identity, but autism affects their daily lives. At Willard Heating and Air Conditioning, we strive to bring the community together with understanding.
In partnership with Autism Speaks and for World Autism Month, we will be spreading awareness about autism and the wonderful people in the autism community. Read on to learn more about how we’ll use our resources to promote this powerful cause.
What Is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder affects everyone differently. Additionally, individuals have varying degrees of autism, which means it will present in various ways. We can all struggle with communicating our thoughts or finding the right words now and then. Similarly, autism affects the communication, behavior patterns, relationships, and social perceptions of people with the developmental disorder.
The Autism Society details the experiences people on the autism spectrum can have, including the following:
- Atypical speech patterns
- Repetitive movements
- Highly restricted and intense interests
- Trouble with understanding nonverbal communication
- Difficulty making and keeping friends
- Preference for things to be uniform
You might be able to recognize these characteristics early on in an individual’s life. Still, oftentimes the signs can be slight and may not develop until later in life. For these reasons, Autism can go undiagnosed, leading to unreported cases.
With growing acceptance and support for the autistic community, the CDC reports that the number of people with autism has risen to 1 in 59 people, doubling what was reported in 2004. We hope to demonstrate that every single autistic person is unique in their own right and brings value to our world.
The Willard Way: Spreading Kindness Through Awareness
While some can’t experience what it’s like to be, know, or live with an autistic person, the best way to educate ourselves about ASD is by seeking out those who are actively sharing their experiences. During World Autism Month, we will be sharing families’ stories and asking questions for a deeper understanding of their experiences.
Stories have an impact on all of us, whether they inspire us or make us stop and think. It’s equally impactful to ask the right questions so that we see the whole picture. We’ll be asking our families for guidance about what people say or ask when they learn about their autistic family member. Featured families will share with the community what they want people to know, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to hear their stories.
In addition to the family spotlights, you can look for our custom wrapped van featuring the Autism Speaks logo and colors. Each of our techs will be wearing a pin and an embroidered puzzle piece in support of the cause.
This is a cause we will keep close to our hearts, and we are honored to unite the community in support of our autistic friends and family.
“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”
- Stephen Shore
