Meredith Autism Program Spirit Week

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and we’re celebrating in the best way possible – with Spirit Week!  From April 6th – April 10th, we want to invite you to participate with us in sharing MAP’s mission to raise awareness, show acceptance, and promote advocacy for autistic individuals.

Attached to this email is a flyer, and below are details about the significance of each day and ways to show your support.

• Monday, April 6th | Light it Up Gold – Wear gold or yellow to kick off spirit week! 

  • Many in the autistic community feel a stronger connection to the color gold rather than traditional symbols like blue or puzzle pieces. Gold represents a sense of value, uniqueness, and strength, which highlights the brilliance and individuality of those on the spectrum.

• Tuesday, April 7th | Wear Your Most Sensory-Friendly Outfit – Wear what makes you feel most comfortable! Noise-reducing headphones? Tag-free clothing? Sunglasses to dim fluorescent lights? We want to see it all!

  • Autistic individuals experience the world through a unique sensory lens, where sights, sounds, textures, and smells may feel more or less noticeable than they do for others. Sensory differences can shape daily life and embracing these differences helps create a world that better accommodates neurodiversity.

• Wednesday, April 8th | Wacky Wednesday – Show what makes you YOU by dressing in your own unique style! Feel free to highlight your favorite colors or patterns!

  • Autism is a spectrum, meaning that no two individuals experience it the exact same way. Recognizing and celebrating these individual differences helps foster a deeper understanding of the autistic community.

• Thursday, April 9th | Dress as Your Special Interest – Got a dream job? A favorite hobby? A treasured item or activity? Highlight what you’re passionate about by dressing as your special interest!

  • Autistic minds have the power to focus and deep dive, turning interests into expertise. Far from being a limitation, special interests are a powerful and deeply engaging part of life for many autistic individuals.

• Friday, April 10th | Wear Your MAP Gear – Join us in wearing your MAP gear – t-shirts, stickers, and lanyards! If you don’t have any MAP gear just yet, swing by Ledford Hall to grab a button! Starting on Monday the 6th, we will have a basket placed on the table by the 1st floor printer. You can also sport your gold and maroon or participate by spreading the word about MAP around the community. 🙂

  • MAP’s mission is to spread awareness of autism, increase community acceptance of neurodiversity, and serve as advocates for autistic individuals. We could not do the work we do without YOU and are so grateful for support from our community at Meredith.

Participants can send a selfie of their outfit to our account on Instagram or Facebook or email autism@meredith.edu to be entered into a raffle to win one of several prizes. Prizes feature MAP favorites and products from companies in our community who support neurodiversity affirming practice and/or inclusive employment. We can’t wait to see all of your submissions! More details will be posted each afternoon of spirit week, so get excited!