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So, let\u2019s talk about this year\u2019s Autism Awareness Month\u2026

Autism Awareness Month is not just a yearly celebration in April; it\u2019s something that\u2019s personally changed me and my family\u2019s lives.

That\u2019s why having an episode like this is special to me. It\u2019s not just because it allows me to look back at the beginning of my journey of living with my spouse and raising two wonderful kids who have autism; it also allows us to celebrate the diversity of the human experience of dealing with autism or living with someone who has autism.

So join me in this episode as I share with you my personal experience of going through the hump of fear and unawareness of autism and how you can get to that next level of awareness as well with the help of Autism Awareness Month.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Find out what Autism Awareness Month is all about and why it is such a special month to me;
• Learn the importance of understanding that everyone has a different experience with autism; and
• Discover the crucial role of awareness, how to get to that \u201cnext level\u201d of awareness, and what to do with it once you get there

\u201cThis is where I want alarms to ring for anyone who is watching or listening to this. When you have something that is occurring to you that is different, that is now affecting the way you typically or normally live your life, you need to be ringing some bells and seeking professional help, even if you have a couple of people tell you that it\u2019s normal.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people who, when that diagnosis first comes around, they don\u2019t want to hear it. A lot of times, it\u2019s out of fear; just like when I first heard the diagnosis\u2026 Thankfully, when you have help and a great support system, you grow out of that fear.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Berry Pierre

\u201cOnce I was surrounded with a family who is autistic and recognized that, \u2018Wow, that is what they experience when they go through that\u2019, it allowed me to be able to open my eyes up to the experience that my patients were having.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Berry Pierre

\u201cRecognizing the signs and symptoms the earlier is always the better.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Berry Pierrre

\u201cBeing Black, even when you\u2019re autistic, there\u2019s a different experience. Even in the world of autism, being black is a subset that causes a different level of experience that others who are autistic and not black don\u2019t have to experience.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Berry Pierre

\u201cDiagnosis is just the first step, being aware of it is really just the first step; It\u2019s now taking what you\u2019re aware of, and applying it. Taking what you\u2019re aware of, and recognizing, \u2018Hey, you know what? I may need to do something about it.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Berry Pierre

\u201cThe beauty of a month like this is that everyone is going to be at a different stage of their awareness, and it\u2019s most important to get them to where they need to get to, to get them to that next step, and also to help them recognize that a community is there.\u201d\u2013 Dr. Berry Pierre

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