In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month this April, we sat down with our Autism + ABA team to learn more about how autism advocacy can positively impact the lives of the people Easterseals PORT Health (ESPH) supports.
Pictured: Charlotte and Lainey
Advocacy means standing up and speaking out for others. Our team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Behavior Technicians are dedicated autism advocates. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that autism needs, rights and strengths are recognized across various settings at home and in the community. Self-advocacy takes place when people know their rights and are able to confidently express what they need.
“Self-advocacy is one of the most impactful skills we help autistic individuals develop,” shares Charlotte, an Autism Community Partner in Raleigh, NC. “It empowers people to communicate their needs and boundaries, share their experiences and learn to access the support they need to thrive.”
Our Autism + ABA team believes there are three key principles of advocacy: Awareness, Acceptance and Affirmation.
- Awareness recognizes a person’s autistic identity.
- Acceptance acknowledges the unique traits, strengths, challenges and lived experiences of autistic individuals.
- Affirmation validates these traits and experiences.
Advocacy is where the three A’s become action. Advocacy and self-advocacy ensures autistic voices are heard and valued. “For me, teaching someone to advocate for their wants and needs always takes priority over learning to follow instructions,” says Lainey, who is a BCBA in Raleigh, NC. “This tends to dramatically decrease challenging behaviors, setting the stage for successfully learning other skills and it also keeps the program steered away from compliance-based teaching.”
Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com/autism-services.
ABOUT US
Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, mental health and substance use services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,600 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.
