IEAutismAwareness

09/15/2026

This footage is a reminder of how far disability services have come—and why we can never become complacent. People with autism and developmental disabilities deserve dignity, communication, autonomy, meaningful relationships, and support—not simply compliance or control.
The goal should never be to make someone easier to manage. The goal is to help them communicate, participate, learn, and live as fully and independently as possible. ❤️
We learn from the past so we don’t repeat it.

09/04/2026

What if children understand inclusion better than we do? ❤️

Kids don’t walk onto a playground asking who has the most money, what religion someone practices, what neighborhood they’re from, or whether someone learns, communicates, moves, or experiences the world differently.

They ask the important questions:

“Do you want to play?”
“What’s your favorite snack?”
“Do you like dinosaurs too?” 🦖
“Want to be my friend?”

Somewhere along the way, the world teaches us which differences are supposedly big enough to separate us.

But different doesn’t mean less.
Different doesn’t mean incapable.
And different certainly doesn’t mean someone doesn’t belong.

Whether the difference is race, culture, disability, communication, ability, or simply the way someone experiences the world—we all deserve a place at the table.

Children aren’t born with a list of reasons to exclude someone.

**Maybe instead of teaching children how to see the world like adults, we should spend a little more time learning how to see people like they do.** 🧡♾️💙

09/02/2026

08/30/2026

10-year-old Hayden Chemberlen is bringing representation and inspiration to the PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie universe as Rex. 🐾💙 He shared with Natalie Morales that he hoNatalie Moralese wheelchairs see his character and remember one important message: keep going, believe in yourself, and never give up. ♿✨

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

🎉💙🧡 Happy 79th Birthday to the incredible Dr. Temple Grandin! 🧡💙🎉

Today, we celebrate a woman whose voice, brilliance, and advocacy have had an extraordinary impact on society—and especially on the autism community.

Temple Grandin has helped millions of people better understand that autistic minds are not “less than”—they may simply experience, process, learn, and interact with the world differently. Through her work as an author, educator, scientist, professor, and advocate, she has challenged assumptions about autism and shown the world the incredible value of neurodiverse thinking.

Her willingness to openly share her own experiences has helped parents better understand their children, educators rethink how they teach, professionals reconsider how they support autistic individuals, and autistic people see possibilities for their own futures.

One of her most powerful reminders continues to be:

✨ “Different, not less.” ✨

Thank you, Temple Grandin, for helping society recognize that different ways of thinking can lead to innovation, creativity, problem-solving, and meaningful contributions to our world.

Happy Birthday from all of us at IEAutismAwareness! 🎂♾️

💙 ACCEPT • 🧡 INCLUDE • 💙 EMPOWER

08/27/2026

08/25/2026

Stimming is more common than you might think. 💛

Bouncing your leg, tapping your fingers, humming, twirling your hair, pacing, or fidgeting can all be ways our bodies help us regulate, focus, release energy, or manage big emotions.

For autistic people, stimming may be more noticeable or play a much bigger role in sensory and emotional regulation—but stimming itself isn’t “weird.”

It’s human. 🧠✨

Instead of asking, “How do we stop it?” try asking, “What is this helping the person do?”

08/23/2026

♾️ **Did you know a medieval saint has become an unexpected figure of connection for some autistic Christians?**

Meet **St. Thorlak**, a 12th-century Icelandic bishop whose historical descriptions have led some autistic people to see pieces of their own experiences reflected in his story.

Accounts describe him as:
🤫 Very quiet in social situations
📚 Deeply drawn to reading and learning
🧠 Highly intellectual from childhood
📅 Strongly committed to routine and structure

But here’s the part that often gets lost online:

**We cannot say that St. Thorlak “had autism” as a historical fact.**

He lived more than 800 years ago centuries before autism was medically defined. His connection to autism is a **modern, devotional and community-driven association**, not a confirmed diagnosis.

And another important distinction:

⛪ **The Vatican has NOT officially named St. Thorlak the patron saint of autism.**
🇮🇸 His official patronage is **Iceland**.

Still, his story has become meaningful to many autistic Christians, and communities have used his example to encourage greater **acceptance, accessibility, belonging and inclusion within faith spaces.**

💬 **We want to hear from you:**
Had you ever heard of St. Thorlak before today? And what do you think about historical figures becoming meaningful symbols for modern communities?

👇 Share your thoughts below and **save or share this post** with someone who loves autism history, faith, or neurodiversity.

♾️ **Different minds. Stronger together.**