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MIND Institute presenters urge autism acceptance, explain diagnosis and supports
Summary
UC Davis MIND Institute-affiliated presenters at a CDFA Disability Advisory Committee event urged moving from ‘awareness’ to ‘acceptance,’ explained diagnostic language and support levels, and listed practical steps employees can take to be more inclusive.
Anna Rodriguez, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and doctoral candidate, opened the presentation by saying the goal is to move beyond awareness toward acceptance: “autism acceptance means when youre happy to see me,” she said. She explained that diagnostic labels and DSM-5 levels are intended to describe current support needs, not a persons identity, and that diagnosis helps families access services.
Rodriguez framed autism as a spectrum with diverse strengths and needs, noting social-communication differences, repetitive behaviors, and sensory differences as core features. She urged colleagues to ask families about language preferences and emphasized partnering with autistic people and their families when designing supports. The session closed with a CDFA announcement that the Disability Advisory Committee is recruiting new members.
