Autism Awareness Month has grown to become a huge national event, with organizations pledging their support in raising awareness about the barriers autistic people face. In 2021, the event was renamed Autism Acceptance Month, created by and for the autistic community to shift towards with a renewed focus on pushing through legislation that would support autistic people in their daily lives.
- Could I Be Autistic? Watch a 20-minute prerecorded video then join a live discussion on April 25, 2023. This free webinar is offered by UW Autism Center.
- Autism Stories Project hosted by UW Autism Center is an idea inspired by StoryCorps, based on the belief that everyone has an important story to share, and that these stories connect and strengthen us.
- Autism Society
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network
- Autistic Lens
Podcasts: (these are free play/access to subscribe through desktop applications)
- Spectrumly Speaking is dedicated to women on the autism spectrum, produced by Different Brain. Join hosts Haley Moss (an autism self-advocate, attorney, artist, and author) and Dr. Lori Butts a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist and attorney as they discuss topics and news stories and interview voices from the autism community.
- Autism : In Conversation with Auticon is a new podcast from auticon, a global IT consultancy whose consultants are all autistic. The series is designed to drive awareness of the realities of autism in the workplace, from the merits of hiring neurodiverse talent, through to some of the more common challenges faced by autistic adults navigating the workplace. Hosted by Carrie Grant, each episode will feature interviews with leading voices on autism, including figures from the business world, social media influencers and autism academics.
- Not Your Mama’s Autism with Lola Dada-Olley is the story of one family's experiences with autism through a multi-generational lens. Hosted by a woman who is both the older sibling to a non-verbal man living with autism and now the mother of two children on the autism spectrum, NYMA takes on topics like autism awareness now compared to thirty years ago, past and current treatments, allies, special education pre-Covid-19 and during Covid-19, disability rights are broken down by zip code, marriage therapy along the autism journey, the intersectionality of race and disability, corporate inclusion efforts and much more.
Communities - Local/Regional Resources:
- Autism Acres - Rochester
- Sensory Toolhouse LLC - Lacey
State:
Celebrate in style with our Giphy @trlibrary collection. For your next virtual meeting, add our Virtual Autism Acceptance Month Backdrop to your collection!
Quick Links to Timberland Resources
more online resources are available under the "Learn" menu
Check out ebooks, audiobooks, streaming videos, digital magazines, and more using a computer and/or other electronics like a smartphone. Your library card is your portal to free online resources. Learn more on how to get a library card. Accessing the following websites directly (not using provided links below) your access might be denied, limited, or cost you money.
Kanopy has an abundance of films and documentaries available to watch now. Users are allowed 8 plays per month. Check out these featured films during Autism Acceptance Month.
Benji, the Bad Day and Me
For kids. Enjoy unlimited plays in the curated collection for kids on Kanopy Kids.
A touching, heartfelt story about the ways we process frustration and emotion, Benji, the Bad Day, and Me explores the power of familial relationships—especially between siblings. The story tenderly handles topics like neurodiversity and autism, sensory therapy, caring for loved ones, and honoring one’s feelings without judgment. Written by Sally J. Pla, illustrated by Ken Min, and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, later translated into English by author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas), THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe.
After spending his early years in foster care, without access to language, DJ Savarese (“Deej”) found not only a loving family but also a life in words, which he types on a text-to-voice synthesizer. As he dreams of college, he confronts the terrors of his past, society’s obstacles to inclusion and the often-paralyzing beauty of his own senses. In this first-of-its-kind collaboration between a veteran filmmaker and a nonspeaking autistic, Robert Rooy and DJ share editorial control as they navigate the challenges of representing autism. DEEJ is a story told from the inside, not by parents or “experts”.
PressReader grants you access more than 7,000 of the world’s top newspapers and magazines online. Get the app to access all the publications on your smart device. (TRL Library Card and Pin number are required.)
ABCmouse offers a comprehensive online curriculum for children ages 2–8+, with over 10,000 interactive learning activities to improve reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art and music. ABCmouse Home Access now available!
Libby is the newer library reading app by OverDrive, loved by millions of readers worldwide. Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more from your library for free!
Universal Class offers online learning courses for people interested in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge. There are over 500 courses that you can take at any time without waiting for sessions to start or end. Once enrolled in a course, watch engaging videos, complete assignments, and receive feedback from instructors. For many courses a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) certificate is offered at successful completion. Some courses are also available for video-only auditing. (Universal Class Tutorial)
Early Learning StoryTimes and La hora bilingüe
Join our expert StoryTime providers for songs, music, movement, books, and activities for the whole family. StoryTime works best when parents and caregivers participate together, so children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
- Book Babies: Books, bounces, music and play for babies and their participating caregivers.
- Preschool Storytime: Stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers and their participating caregivers.
- Family Storytime: Music, movement, books and activities for the whole family. All ages welcome.
- Play Group: Play time for children birth to 6 years with a participating adult. Arrival and departure times are flexible.
- Online Only: Bilingual Time/La hora bilingüe
TRL is committed to the values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. TRL Celebrations: Recognizes significant events throughout the year. Promote a culture of inclusion, representation, and belonging that reflects communities we serve. Promotes connection of the richness and diversity throughout our counties and the world at large.