May Seasonal Newsletter

Hey! Welcome back to the May edition of the seasonal newsletter!

April was Autism Awareness Month, a month for citizens around the world to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder and build more inclusive communities for these people. This year, the theme was Workplace Inclusivity, focusing on the struggles that people with autism are met with each day at work, but first, what is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder, and causes communication difficulties, repetitive actions, and heightened focus on a smaller number of hobbies or interests. This affects around 1% of children worldwide, but some studies suggest the number could be much higher. This year's theme not only promotes inclusivity in the workplace, but also the right for everyone, regardless of whether they’re autistic or not, to be able to get a proper education. This is the only way to truly create an equitable and inclusive workplace.

While there are many difficulties for autistic people to function in our society, they can achieve just as much as we can, if not more, because of their constant perseverance. Here are some examples of people who’ve succeeded regardless of their diagnosis.

Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle is a Scottish singer who, after auditioning for the talent show Britain's Got Talent, became a worldwide phenomenon. Now, she’s had over 25 million albums sold, more than 650 million YouTube hits, and so much more! However, she is also diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a type of autism. Her consistent hard work and grit is definitely something we all can look up to!

Albert Einstein

Yes, you read that right. History’s greatest mind, the most notable scientist of all time, is speculated to have autism. Known for his theory of relativity among other discoveries, Einstein made revolutionary changes to the way we, humans, understand space, time, gravity, and the universe. He single handedly changed the world with his research and hard work, all while having Asperger Syndrome as well.

After reading about these amazing people, I know there’s no doubt in my mind that people shouldn’t be judged because of their autistic diagnosis, because they have an outstanding ability to learn and comprehend. Although Autism Awareness Month has ended, the fight for equality and inclusivity is one that will not cease until the goal is achieved.

Throughout this month, there were various events launched, such as the Markham EXPO, and many events to come, such as the Laws of Nature conference. To find out more about these events, you can click here! A reminder that these are only 2 of the many successful and motivational campaigns and events that occurred; all the campaigns launched are a result of many hours of hard work and determination, and we can’t wait to see what else happens in May!

Additionally, there are also many learning opportunities in the coming month, with the most prominent being the OCE’s Virtual Global Innovation Opportunity as well as the team positions up for grabs from LeadersFluent Canada. Click here to learn more!

April certainly was a calmer month than March, but the many events and opportunities still have shone a light into our lives. The continuous hard work of everyone behind the instagram posts and zoom events have not gone unnoticed, and they continue to inspire and lead through example.

I’m so excited to see what this coming month has planned!