04/01/2026
💙April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to recognize the talents, contributions, and diversity within the autism community. At The Arc, autistic people and their loved ones are a part of our staff, volunteer leaders, and the driving force behind our work. Their lived experiences shape our advocacy at a time when an estimated 1 in 31 children in the U.S. are autistic, yet too many remain underserved.
The big picture: Autistic people deserve full inclusion and respect. Yet, they continue to face misunderstanding, discrimination, and barriers in education, employment, healthcare, and community life. True inclusion means more than awareness. It requires action to remove these obstacles so autistic people can thrive as their authentic selves.
💚April is also recognized as Parkinson’s Awareness Month, which is the perfect time to brush up on your Parkinson’s facts. Here are 5 fast facts about PD:
Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year.
Scientists believe a combination of environmental and genetic factors cause PD.
People with Parkinson’s experience both movement and non-movement related symptoms.
Source: Parkinson’s Foundation/ The Arc