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Autism Acceptance Facts
By: Rachel Chung
Did you know Autism Acceptance month was previously known as Autism Awareness month? According to Neurology Advisor, April is now Autism Acceptance month, as instead of portraying autism as an illness, we are celebrating and understanding the unique lives and experiences of autistic individuals. According to Autism Ontario, “there are approximately 135,000 autistic people in Ontario.”, yet several misconceptions and prejudices still exist and lead to discrimination against autistic Canadians. Autism acceptance month aims to combat prejudice, promote autism pride, and offer support to autistic individuals and their loved ones.
The concept of autism was first suggested by Eugen Bleuler in 1911. In 2013, autism officially became autism spectrum disorder, introducing the idea of the autism spectrum that continues to be used by medical professionals today. Autism Awareness began in the 1970s, when the National Autism Society declared that April would be known as Autism Awareness Month. In 2011 Autism Awareness Month officially became Autism Acceptance Month thanks to the Autism Self-Advocacy Network.
Autism Acceptance Month has enabled societal acceptance towards autistic individuals and has also helped to improve the lives of those living with autism. For example, the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that autistic individuals benefit from acceptance as it improves their self-acceptance and self-esteem. On the other hand, lack of acceptance leads to increased depression and stress. Although many don’t realize it, Autism Acceptance Month makes a crucial difference in the lives of autistic individuals and their loved ones. By simply taking a few moments to empower autistic Canadians we are improving the lives of autistic individuals all over the world.
Autism Acceptance is also a month to acknowledge the amazing achievements of individuals with autism, and to shed the image of autism as an illness or disease. Some extraordinary autistic individuals include Eminem, Lionel Messi, Elon Musk, Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokemon, and America’s Next Top Model contestant Heather Kuzmich. While the world seems content to portray autistic individuals as limited, April showcases what the autistic community can truly achieve!
So, this Autism Awareness Month, wear blue, and spread love and acceptance. It may not seem like a lot, but talking to even one person about autism awareness helps to change society’s prejudices. It is time to accept and support autistic individuals and promote a culture of inclusivity for all Canadians.
On The Appeal to Academic Glitter
By: Joanne Liang
“Locking in.” “Academic weapon.” Chances are, if you have Instagram, Tik Tok, or any remote form of social media, you’ve seen these terms being thrown around in relation to academic self-improvement and achievement.
The emergence of romanticising studying dates back to the late 2010’s, when dark academia emerged and took the online world (namely, Tumblr) by storm. Since then, the fantasy of black coffee, dusty books and formal education has captured hearts and minds alike across the internet. Despite its long history, academic romanticisation hasn’t blown up quite as high as expected.. until it unexpectedly did this year.
Today, if you go on Pinterest, a quick scroll is all you’ll need to realise that academic glitter has this app on a near chokehold. The imagery of warm, hazelnut aroma and academia books scattered across your desk screams of aesthetics… and so does every other image on your feed. Scroll below, and you’ll find overwhelming praises like “I love this! 😍” and 40 other variations flooding the comment section.
The thing is, Pinterest doesn’t even have it the worst. This article would’ve ended right here and I would be getting my long-awaited good night’s rest if that were the case. I guarantee that the average Pinterest user won’t spend more than 20 minutes max scrolling through their feed, but what about the other apps, the kingpins of doom-scrolling? That’s right. I’m looking at you, Instagram and YouTube.
It’s one thing to dream about living in a few pretty Pinterest pictures. But now, you’ve got essays and thirty minute tutorials titled “How to Achieve the Aesthetic Lifestyle”, and thirteen other variations of that on your feed, and suddenly this niche “-core” indulgence is taking the media world by storm. This phenomenon is changing the lifestyles of an entire generation, and for the first time, we’re asking the how’s before the why’s.
So, I’ll do it. I’ll bite. What is it that drives Gen Z to be so obsessed with this specific image? Why is this phenomenon happening now of all times? After a whole rabbit hole of research and a few enlightening interviews with my fellow Gen Z fellows, I’ve come to posit a few theories.
Romanticization isn’t nearly as rampant in the younger grades than the highschoolers and, the worst of them all, college students. This is for a simple reason, and it’s that there simply isn’t that much to worry about. You don’t need pzazz if your life is already sunshine and rainbows and you’re not six feet deep in homework assignments and pending legal documents.
That’s why the older kids…they have it rough. Especially in a time where AI and ChatGPT have turned Google Classroom submissions upside down and their parents’ dabbling in politics and the future of Canada gets a little too heated in the car. Or maybe that’s just my personal experience, who knows. But the fact remains that Gen Z is reporting the highest rates of anxiety and depression than ever seen before. War is breaking out in every corner of the planet, the adults are all talking about inflation and absurd housing prices, our childhood treasures are going through the online Salem witch trials––oops, sorry, I meant to say cancel culture, what is there to look forward to?
All things considered, I’m not surprised that our generation wants, even if it seems shallow, to indulge in something that makes us feel in control of our futures. After all, everything we believed in and were told is constantly being turned on its heels. School is infinitely smaller than the terrifying world out there, and our grades are things we can work towards with the right amount of time and effort.
So, I can see why our generation tries so hard to distract ourselves. Not just through romanticization, but through social media, video games, and outright anything that offers a semblance of escape from the outside world. Even the millennials had devised their own unhealthy strategy to get through the uncertain future (attaching themselves to an IV line of copious amounts of Starbucks). That said, I don’t agree with it.
Romanticising studying is great for bolstering your productivity for a short period of time, but terribly unsustainable in the long run. The whole appeal of aesthetics stems from that short burst of novelty––once you obtain that high, you come down and move onto the next shiny object. Therein lies the paradox: that studying for the sake of studying, instead of learning, is counterintuitive towards your productivity.
This problem is most apparent in what’s become a hotly debated topic on the internet: the legitimacy of the Liberal Arts. As if this major hasn’t undergone enough stigma for “not having a use in the real world” (god, I’d be a millionaire for every dollar earned hearing that), dreamy-eyed Gen Z’s are now crafting their own nifty, stereotypical image of life as a Liberal Arts major.
But that’s not it at all. Not every person in the program gets to study in a dark, ambient library and analyse Greek philosophers for a living. To begin with, entering a major for its visual appeal instead of considering what you’re about to dedicate four years worth towards is convoluted in itself.
Gen Z is covered head to toe in academic glitter. Don’t get me wrong, I also love the occasional colours and dramatic flair, but stare at those colourful sequins too long, and it starts to become a sight for sore eyes.
HEADS UP!
YLoYR is hosting our ANNUAL AxL event on June 2nd, from 12-2 pm. You'll get to listen to a guest speaker talk about university life, applications, and get ahead on preparing for post-secondary! If you're interested, make sure to stay tuned on our Instagram and Website for future updates!
Thanks for the wait again and see you next month!
Joanne, Rachel and Grace