10 Autism Awareness Activities for Schools

April is National Autism Awareness Month. It’s a time dedicated to spreading understanding, acceptance, and support for people with autism. Whether you’re looking to celebrate this milestone in April, or another meaningful time in your school community, this blog post will help you plan out the perfect activities.

It is important to note there are many conversations that instead of just autism awareness, we need autism acceptance. I could not agree more with this but believe that before acceptance we do need awareness! It depends where your community and school is at. These activities can support both awareness and acceptance.

Our schools play a huge role in helping educate our students on what autism is and help foster a more inclusive world. We do this by helping students understand autism and embrace neurodiversity. Of all the tasks we are armed with, this may be the most important. In order for us to support all students in feeling like they belong inside of our schools, we have to teach all students about the ways people are different and unique, and how they can take action to create acceptance and community because of this.

You may be looking for activities and ways to bring in this discussion in your classroom. I want to guide you on some things I’ve done and seen others do in their classrooms to shine a light on autism and create more awareness in our school community. 

Here are engaging and meaningful Autism Awareness Month activities for elementary, middle, and high schools, along with examples, resources, and ideas to help foster empathy and respect among students of all ages.

Below you’ll find 10 ideas for activities you can plan for your school that highlight the autism population and provide rich learning experiences for the greater school community. These activities were created to be used with a younger audience, but can also be amended for an older audience. Choose one, or a few activities/events to use with your school!

Activities to Highlight Autistic Individuals

1. Host a Guest Speaker with Autism

Inviting a guest speaker who is autistic to speak at the school can be a powerful way to connect students with the real-life experiences of autistic individuals. This interaction helps students learn directly from someone who can share insights into autism spectrum disorder, sensory needs, and the unique experiences of autistic people. Having a real person who can share real experiences gives students a tangible way to understand ASD and neurodiversity. The speaker can help correct misconceptions, support students in understanding the different ways autism impacts daily life, and make a meaningful connection to the concept of how people experience the world in unique ways. 

Hearing personal stories from an autism advocate can strengthen empathy, especially among elementary students. Try partnering with community centers or autism-focused organizations to find a willing speaker. Some local businesses or autism advocates might have people with autism on their team who are comfortable speaking publicly. You could even reach out to the parent organization within your school to find volunteers within the greater school community. Middle and high school students can benefit from a more in-depth Q&A, while younger students will enjoy shorter, storytelling sessions.

2. Reading Books Featuring Autistic Characters

Reading books about autism and books with autistic characters is a super easy way to introduce students to autism awareness, communication skills, and inclusion. Remember these can be read all year long- not just during April!

Books and stories allow students to explore social interaction in meaningful ways. First-hand accounts and stories encourage empathy and understanding of the autism community. 

Here are a few autism books that are perfect for students across all grade levels:

Books for Younger Students:

• All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph – This picture book contains illustrations showing Zane the zebra navigating school with autism. It’s a great way to introduce the concept of differences and sensory needs to elementary students.
• My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete – This story follows Charlie, a young boy with autism, as told by his sister. It’s a gentle introduction to how autism can impact family members and social interaction.

Books for Older Students:

• Rules by Cynthia Lord – This chapter book explores the life of a young girl with an autistic brother. It provides perspective on the challenges and joys of having a family member with autism, resonating well with middle and high school students.
• The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida – A nonfiction book written by a 13-year-old autistic boy, this book offers insights into sensory overload, communication skills, and the different ways autistic individuals view the world.

You can create lesson plans around these books, discussion circles, or reading groups to allow students to interact with the concepts in meaningful ways.

3. Hold an Autism Awareness Night

Hosting an Autism Awareness Night at school is a great way to bring together the autism community, all students, school staff, families, and even local businesses. This event is a great opportunity for the school community to support autistic children and learn about available resources in the area. This will also be valuable to parents of autistic children and can bring families together who have the same experiences.

In order to make sure this event works well for everyone and meets your objectives, include various autism awareness activities like interactive workshops, sensory play stations, motivational posters, and displays about the history of autism. 

Invite local companies that provide services or support for autistic individuals, such as autism service dogs, sensory toys, mental health resources, and specialized educational tools.

Here are some ideas for interactive stations to include:

• Fidget Toy Table: Set up a station showcasing sensory tools like fidget toys, wiggle cushions, and sensory play items that help autistic students manage sensory stimuli. You can even reach out to companies for donations! Check out some of my favorite fidget toys here.
• Bullying Prevention Pledge Table: This table can help promote a positive, inclusive attitude. Students can pledge to prevent bullying, supporting their fellow students in creating a more inclusive school setting.

Encourage local businesses and autism-focused organizations, such as the Autism Society, to participate in the event and educate the school community on autism acceptance. Including high school students as volunteers can help them learn life skills and enhance their understanding of developmental disabilities.

4. Creating an Autism Awareness Bulletin Board

A fun bulletin board dedicated to autism awareness is an effective, easy way to remind students about the importance of acceptance throughout April and the entire school year. 

Decorate the board with visual arts, the infinity symbol representing neurodiversity, and motivational posters celebrating autistic individuals and promoting a more inclusive environment.

Ideas for content:

• Include facts about autism spectrum disorder, autistic individuals’ strengths, and how the school supports this community.
• Add student contributions such as pictures, crafts, or quotes, making the board a collaborative project that fosters empathy.
• Display books, engaging coloring pages, and sensory toys related to autism, encouraging young children to learn more.

5. Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day with a School-Wide Activity

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, a great opportunity for a school-wide celebration. Teachers can organize activities around the theme of understanding autism and the best way to support autistic students.

• School Assembly: Plan a short assembly or video session discussing autism awareness, acceptance, and the importance of inclusivity. Showcasing real stories of autistic individuals, such as videos or guest speakers, can make it a meaningful experience.
• Classroom Activities: Classroom teachers can create sensory-friendly lessons or use sensory stimuli like dim lights and quiet music for part of the day, demonstrating how different environments can affect people’s experiences.

6. Create Autism Awareness Crafts with Students

Art is a wonderful way for students to express their understanding and support of autism awareness. Simple, fun crafts can be incorporated into an awareness unit, blending creativity with learning.

• Infinity Symbol Crafts: Use art supplies to create the infinity symbol, a growing representation of neurodiversity, as a way of promoting acceptance.
• Motivational Posters: Older students can design posters advocating for autism acceptance and display them in the school or at local community events.

These projects engage students in the topic of raising awareness but also create a tangible reminder of their commitment to supporting autistic peers and family members.

7. Organize a Fundraising Event for Autism Awareness

A fundraising event is a perfect way to bring together community members, students, and teachers while supporting autism research and services. The funds can benefit a local autism charity or another organization that supports autistic individuals.

Ideas for Fundraisers:

• Bake Sale: Make some yummy treats and include information about autism awareness month activities at the sale to help educate attendees.
• School Walk-a-thon: Plan a walk-a-thon or fun run where students collect donations or sponsorships. This is a great way to involve younger and older students alike, promoting community engagement.
• Silent Auction: Gather donations from local businesses and host a silent auction. It’s a simple yet effective way to raise funds and bring awareness to autism support services in the area.

8. Promote Autism Awareness on Social Media

Engaging the school’s social media accounts during Autism Awareness Month allows the broader community to join the conversation and show support. Share autism facts, showcase students’ autism awareness crafts, and post resources for family members and parents.

Tips for Social Media Posts:

• Feature student projects, such as autism-themed bulletin boards or book readings.
• Share resources from autism-focused organizations.
• Highlight autism awareness activities, emphasizing inclusion, positive attitudes, and the importance of supporting autistic students and their families.

9. Teaching Autism through Lesson Plans and Social Studies

For a more structured approach, develop lesson plans and activities in social studies or language arts that focus on autism awareness and acceptance. These lessons can cover the history of autism, important milestones in autism research, and current perspectives on neurodiversity.

Example Activities:

• Printable Social Narrative Format: Use a printable social narrative to explain autism to younger students, helping them understand the different communication styles and sensory experiences of their autistic peers.
• History of Autism: For older students, explore the history of autism and major changes in public awareness. This can help middle and high school students understand societal shifts in how autistic people are perceived.

10. Sensory Play Stations and Sensory-Friendly Areas

Creating sensory-friendly spaces in the classroom setting allows all students to understand the sensory challenges many autistic individuals face. Sensory play areas with items like fidget toys, wiggle cushions, and textured objects can help students explore sensory needs in a hands-on way.

• Sensory-Friendly Classroom Design: Dim lighting, soft seating, and low-sensory spaces can demonstrate to students how sensory overload affects autistic individuals.
• Hands-On Sensory Stations: Set up stations with different sensory materials, like sand, slime, or textured items, allowing students to explore sensory play in a safe, structured setting.

Celebrating the autistic community within your school is an important piece of making everyone feel welcome and creating a greater world of tolerance. Incorporating these autism awareness activities throughout the month of April can foster understanding, empathy, and acceptance among students, teachers, and the wider school environment. Each activity provides a unique, hands-on way to make the school a more inclusive space, empowering students to create positive change both inside and outside the walls of the school.

The most important aspect of celebrating any community is to involve its members directly, and this is particularly true for autism awareness activities. 

To create meaningful, impactful events, reach out to autistic individuals—students, parents, staff members, or community members—to include their perspectives and ideas. They can provide important insights into the types of activities that would be most meaningful, engaging, and respectful of autistic experiences. 

For example, they may suggest sensory-friendly options to avoid sensory overload, recommend activities that promote authentic understanding of autism, or share their preferences for awareness themes. With a lot of discussions occurring regarding logos, colors, and descriptive preferences, it’s important that neurodivergent populations are heard. Including autistic voices not only enhances the quality of your programming but also reinforces the core message of acceptance and inclusion. 

This teaches students the importance of listening to diverse perspectives. It’s also an opportunity to create events that reflect the strengths and needs of autistic people and foster an environment that celebrates individuality. When schools plan with autistic input, they build trust and foster positive relationships between the school and autistic community, creating a more inclusive world for everyone.