Spoken Wishes You a Happy Autistic Pride Day!

At Spoken, we believe human neurodiversity is something to celebrate — not just today, but everyday. That’s why we want to wish everyone a happy Autistic Pride Day! Today is about honoring autistic identity, uplifting autistic voices, and celebrating the beauty of thinking differently. The Spoken team is proud to stand with you.

What Is Autistic Pride Day?

Inspired by the LGBTQ+ Pride movement, Autistic Pride Day was established in 2005 and has been celebrated every year since. It’s a day about visibility, respect, and, of course, pride — not in spite of being autistic, but because of it.

Today is a reminder that autism isn’t something that needs to be cured. Autistic people simply experience the world in a different way, which isn’t a bad thing! Autism can come with unique perspectives, creative problem-solving skills, and other remarkable strengths. This diversity in thinking only makes the world a better place.

Moreover, many of the challenges autistic people face are caused by a lack of proper accommodations in a world built for neurotypical people. By challenging the notion that autism is something to fix, we can improve acceptance and inclusion, making it easier for autistic individuals to access the resources they need to thrive. So please, join us in celebrating the autistic community!

Why It Matters to Us

Spoken is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app, made for people who have difficulty communicating their thoughts. While we support a diverse community of users, many of them are non-speaking autistic (AKA nonverbal). Over time, we’ve had the privilege of hearing from many of these community members, which has helped shape the way we think about inclusion, respect, and design.

Being part of so many autistic users’ daily lives has made Autistic Pride Day deeply meaningful to us. We’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference the right tools and resources can make — not by changing autistic people, but by empowering them to live their lives on their own terms. Spoken helps its users flourish by expressing themselves in the way that works best for them. We would like to see that opportunity extended to other parts of their lives.

We’re grateful to be part of this community, and we’re proud to stand in support of autistic pride!

Learn More About Neurodiversity

If you’re interested in learning more about autism and neurodiversity, we encourage you to explore the work of autistic-led organizations and advocates. These voices are essential to understanding what it really means to be autistic.

It’s also important to note that not all organizations claiming to support autistic people actually center their needs or respect their autonomy. Some promote harmful narratives or prioritize “fixing” autism over embracing neurodiversity or improving quality of life. That’s why we recommend learning from groups led by autistic people, for autistic people.

Organizations by and for autistic people:

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): Advocates for rights, inclusion, and self-determination for all autistic people.
• Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN): Supports autistic women, girls, and nonbinary people through community-building and advocacy.
• NeuroClastic: A community of neurodivergent writers and professionals sharing personal stories, resources, and their perspectives.
• Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism: A valuable resource offering essays, interviews, and information grounded in evidence and autistic perspectives.

Listening to autistic voices is one of the most impactful ways to build understanding and support meaningful change, so we strongly suggest taking the time to view these websites and similar resources.

Happy Autistic Pride Day!

Whether you’re autistic yourself, love someone who is, or are simply here to learn: thank you for being part of a world that values neurodiversity. Once again, we want to wish you a joyful and empowering Autistic Pride Day.