Unmasking in April: Honoring Autism Acceptance Month

God placed it on my heart to launch this website in April—what I later realized was April is Autism Acceptance Month. In His perfect timing, He revealed that this wasn’t just about going public with a blog—it was about walking the path from mere awareness of my diagnosis to full acceptance of who He created me to be. If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be sharing my story publicly, with “autism” as a part of it, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Since being diagnosed a year ago, I struggled to accept my diagnosis. I’ve heard and read the narrative that I conjured up this disorder—that it’s all in my head—or been told, “Don’t speak that over your life,” as if naming my reality somehow cancels God’s promises. I second-guessed myself, downplayed my challenges, and carried shame I couldn’t always name. I told myself it wasn’t that serious. I had learned to mask, to survive, to power through—even when it was costing me my peace, my energy, and my confidence.

The irony is that the more I tried to push past it, the more stuck I became. It wasn’t until I stopped fighting my reality and started asking God what He wanted me to learn from it that things began to shift. I began to understand that acknowledging the truth isn’t claiming defeat—it’s opening the door for healing, grace, and purpose. Slowly, I started to see my diagnosis not as a punishment, but as a piece of my purpose. A lens that explained so much of what I’ve struggled with—my sensitivity, my forgetfulness, my overwhelm in chaos, and my deep need for peace and order.

The "Mask"

Level 1 Autism, often referred to as “high-functioning,” is a spectrum diagnosis. It means I need support, even if I can appear capable on the outside. I may struggle with executive functioning, emotional regulation, social cues, and sensory overload—but I’ve also been blessed with deep empathy, a strong need for routine and structure, and a unique way of seeing the world. The hardest part isn’t the diagnosis itself. It’s the pressure to constantly mask and meet expectations that don’t match how I’m wired.

From Awareness to Acceptance

After being diagnosed, I did various research surrounding the "disorder". I watched YouTube videos, listened to podcasts, read books, listened to audio books, followed social media pages related to the disorder, you name it. I'd already known that there were various months designated to the awareness and advocacy of different causes, but it wasn't until God put it on my spirit to start this blog that I researched those related to mental and cognitive health. That's when I learned that in 2021, April was officially redefined as “Autism Acceptance Month” rather than “Autism Awareness Month,” a shift led by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and others to highlight the importance of true acceptance and inclusion of autistic individuals. When I read about this shift from "awareness" to "acceptance", I realized that starting this blog at this very time also aligned with my own journey of going from awareness of my diagnosis and what autism is, to fully accepting who I am and who he has created me to be.

The AuDHDacity to move forward

AuDHD—pronounced like “Audi-H-D”—is the intersection of autism and ADHD, and while it’s not a formal diagnosis, it’s a very real experience for many people—including myself. Yes, not only was I diagnosed with a serving of level 1 autism, but I was also diagnosed with a helping of Inattentive ADHD, aaaaaand a side of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)—a neurological condition where my brain has trouble making sense of what I hear—especially when there are a lot of sounds at once. The best way I can explain it is trying to understand someone talking while several radio stations are playing over each other, making it hard to focus on just one voice. It also causes a delay between hearing something and being able to process and understand it...like my brain needs a few extra seconds to "catch up". So as you can imagine, that was A LOT for me to digest.

Autism Acceptance Month is about recognizing and embracing the full spectrum of neurodiversity, and AuDHD is a part of that. It shines a light on the complexity of being neurodivergent in multiple ways, especially when those traits overlap, conflict, or amplify each other. Autism Acceptance Month isn’t just about telling the world we exist. For me, it’s about learning to accept myself—the way God made me. I’m still navigating this path forward. I still have days when I feel “too much” or “not enough.” But now I’m doing it with more grace, more understanding, more faith, and more audacity.

Start your day with AuDHDacity--boldly wired, beautifully made, and brewed with purpose.

AuDHDacity™ — a blend of Autism + ADHD + audacity — is the boldness it takes to live authentically while navigating the world with a neurodivergent mind. It’s about showing up fully as I am: forgetful but faithful, scattered but strong, sensitive but Spirit-led. I was led to include it here because it’s part of my story. My neurodivergence affects how I think, feel, parent, plan, create, and connect. This blog is a space where I embrace all of it — the chaos, the clarity, the coffee, and the calling — with honesty, humor, and grace.

Scripture that anchors me in this season:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:14

This verse reminds me that God didn’t make a mistake. Every part of me was intentionally crafted. Even the parts I once tried to hide. Launching this blog is an act of faith and acceptance. It’s messy and imperfect, but it’s real. And if sharing my journey helps even one person feel less alone, then it’s worth it.

As a woman of faith, a mother, and someone navigating life with AuDHD, this month hits different—it’s not just about awareness, it’s about grace in the chaos, audacity in the overwhelm, and trusting God with every beautifully wired part of me. My story sits at the intersection of prayer, parenting, and processing life differently—and that’s exactly what makes Autism Acceptance Month so deeply personal and powerful.

So here’s to new beginnings, unexpected timing, and the audacity to embrace who you truly are.