Azal

Most people in the U.S. know someone with autism – a friend, neighbor, classmate, or relative – because one in 88 American children (one in 54 American boys) is on the autism spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Here are a few ways you can support and raise awareness for autism this April,

1. Don't support Autism Speaks :- (Read here: https://autisticmama.com/do-not-support-autism-speaks)

2. Put up Yard Signs :- Make a sign for your front door or lawn: “Autism Awareness: Be Understanding. Be Aware.”

3. Say a Prayer :- If you’re the type of person who likes to pray, say a prayer for compassion and tolerance for individuals with autism and their caregivers.

4. Join the crowd :- Show up for an autism awareness walk or go to a rally supporting autism insurance reform in your state.

5. Be a Friend :- If you know a caregiver, call and chat for 2 or 3 minutes. You don’t have to talk about autism, you can just talk about what you ate for lunch and that movie you saw last night.

6. Stand Up, Speak Out :- If you overhear someone at work or in the grocery store saying something inconsiderate about autism or any disability, speak up. Write a letter to your local school board in support of autism education. Keep your letter short and sweet.

7. Be an Amazing Neighbor :- Many families in the autism community fall behind on lawn and home maintenance because of other needs at home, and they don’t hire a lawn service because of the high cost of therapy.

8. Be a Gracious Host :- Invite a person with autism over for a cup of tea, or a family with an autistic child over for a playdate. Ask what you can do to make everyone comfortable.

9. Get Yourself Adopted :- And the number one way to celebrate Autism Awareness Month is to spend some time with a person who has autism. Let someone adopt you as an aunt or uncle today. Don’t assume that your company is unwanted or that the person already has enough support from extended family.

"Autism teaches us to live in the moment, so seize the day: go for a walk, stomp in some mud puddles, play with Legos, learn something new with that person who is waiting for you right now."

Each year during the month of April, state, territory, tribal and community-based organizations, rape crisis centers, government agencies, businesses, campuses, and individuals plan events and activities to highlight sexual violence as public health, human rights, and social justice issue and reinforce the need for prevention efforts.

Online harassment is no less harmful because it happens online. Virtual harassment can leave lasting harm, as the content is often public, unerasable, and just as emotionally damaging as in-person harassment. Online harassment and bullying are extremely common. Forty-one percent of Americans have been personally subjected to harassing behavior online, and an even larger share (66%) have witnessed these behaviors directed at others. People from historically oppressed groups are more likely to be harassed online, and that harassment is likely to be more severe. Online harassment mirrors the inequalities we see elsewhere in society, often including racist, sexist, transphobic, homophobic, ableist, or other hate speech based on aspects of someone's identity.

Victims of online harassment often have little recourse. Due to the anonymity of the internet, many victims have no idea who is behind the harassment and have few avenues to make it stop even if they do know the person causing harm.

“Just log off” isn’t always an effective solution. Pushing the victim to no longer participate in online spaces to avoid being harassed is victim-blaming. Rather than expecting victims to change their behavior and limit their online presence, we must address the root causes of online harassment by taking the issue seriously and holding people who commit online harassment accountable. Many people rely on virtual spaces to stay connected with loved ones and have social interactions. Access to online spaces can be a healing resource for those who have experienced harassment.

An introductory session to dungeons and dragons the storytelling game! No prior knowledge is required as Sajj will go over the basics, everyone is welcomed!

Date - 26th Feb 10:00 pm, Pacific Time (PT)