Hatters can mark World Autism Acceptance Month with walk on Sunday at Police Point Park

By KENDALL KING on April 21, 2023.

Hatters are joining in World Autism Acceptance Month celebrations with a walk of support, taking place Sunday at Police Point Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The walk, organized by Medicine Hat Autism Society, offers community members a welcoming space to connect and learn about autism and support services located locally.

“We’re just hoping to build community,” MHAS board member Staphanie Williams told the News. “The Medicine Hat Autism Society just formed in our community last fall and so, this is our first big event.”

Williams, who also works as a family resource co-ordinator at Autism Alberta’s local Family Resource Centre, explained autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting the behaviour and communications of individuals born with it to varying degrees.

“One of my all time favourite quotes is, ‘If you’ve met one autistic individual, you’ve met one autistic individual,'” Williams said. “Autistic individuals are super diverse, everyone’s different.

“From a diagnostic perspective, right now, you’ll tend to see diagnoses with a level, so Level 1, 2 or 3, and that refers to a level of intervention or support required by an individual. But even that can be misleading, because individuals can have strengths in one area … and the challenges can vary from day to day in their lives.”

Williams says as awareness about autism has grown in recent years, the focus has shifted to generating acceptance – a change reflected in the name ‘World Autism Acceptance Month,’ as it used to be ‘World Autism Awareness Month.’

“Now it’s about accepting these individuals and being inclusive and realizing they’re people,” said Williams. “So, how can we accept these individuals and embrace that we’re different, because different doesn’t mean less.

“A big part of that is connection and finding your support, so that’s what (the walk) Sunday is all about.”

The upcoming walk event is open to all community members, and there is no fee for participation.