Autism Soccer: 5 Ways to Help the Autism Community

Let's work to make the world a more inclusive place.

Have you ever met someone on the autism spectrum before? In the United States, about 1 in 68 children live with the condition. Their lives might be a little different from ours and, they might see the world in a unique perspective; but just like anyone else, they simply want to be happy. They want to have as much control as they can over their lives and have access to the services they need to improve them.

However, that’s not always the case. Even though we live in a more inclusive society, they still have to face discrimination and have trouble finding personalized therapies that, thoroughly, understand theirs and their families’ needs. There is still room for so much more research, as we’re still far from understanding what autism is, what it implies and how different autistic people’s brains truly function.

Whether you’re part of the community or you simply want to get involved in helping people with special needs, here are five ways in which you can join autistic individuals’ efforts to overcome their struggles.

Learn and discuss

The first thing you should take care of is having an open mind. People who don’t know anyone on the spectrum hardly ever get interested enough to understand what autism really is. There are a lot of general misconceptions, so educate yourself and bring the issue to a topic of conversation whenever is possible. Discuss what you know and spread awareness, start doing research and ask yourself some of these questions: are all autistic individuals the same? How many types of autism are there? What are the best ways to communicate with someone with autism? Ask friends if they know any autistic people and what do they think about the disorder. This can be an opportunity to talk about it without forcing it.

If you know someone with autism, be a good friend

There are many ways in which you can directly help if you know someone with ASD or a family with an autistic child. You can choose to leave them be or actively assist them as a friend. Give the families a respite from a life of therapies and medicines by inviting them over, talking to them, letting them know you’re there if they need you. If you have a child, organize play dates with their kid; families with autistic children can easily get isolated, and their kids will probably have trouble making friends, but they need it as much as any ‘typical’ boys and girls. It will help them learn social cues and interact with others. You might realize that these play dates might not be traditional, but they don’t have to be any less fun.

Become an advocate

Whether you’re someone with autism yourself or you want to help, speaking up is a great way to continue on this road. Become a public voice and spread as much information as you can. The Internet gives us the opportunity to reach people we would have never thought possible before, so you shouldn’t be afraid to use new tools to inspire others to take action!

Accept and listen more often

If you want to advocate for a cause, you have to be the primary example of the behavior you want to see in the rest of society. It’s not only about giving money and saying you support the autism community, but it’s also about listening to understand their needs and accept them just as they are. Value each person for their individuality, not for being part of the community you want to join. Make connections, make friends and help others see there’s nothing wrong with letting autistic individuals into your life.

Find ways to be more active

Look for organizations who work every day to help the autism community and join their efforts! Participate in their activities and spread information, so everyone gets to know what we’re up to and what our goals are. It’s essential that people understand why what we do is so important and why should they care. Find foundations like Autism Soccer and get involved with what we do. Organizations dedicated to autism are the best place to start if you don’t know how to help. We’re waiting for you!