The purpose of the contest is to promote awareness of autism spectrum disorders within the community, AND to promote the following values:
- Inclusion: When multiple people are all invited to be part of a group, this is an example of inclusion. Your project should try to include your friends and classmates who have ASD as part of the process. Sometimes this may mean asking a classmate to join in your planning and project, othertimes, it might mean just asking for their input on a specific part of the project. You should try to include your friends and classmates with ASD as much as possible in the planning and execution of your project.
- Acceptance: When we talk about acceptance of people with disabilities, including ASD, we usually mean that we want them to feel like they are truly part of the group. We are asking them to be part of the project as much as they can and we are happy with whatever part they can play. We accept people by being understanding of special needs, whether that is making room for the wheelchair or listening carefully to someone who may speak slowly or with lots of pauses.
- Celebration of Diversity: Every human being is different and unique. This is a great thing about people. We want to celebrate the differences among human beings. We all have something to offer.
- Empowerment: People with disabilities do not have to earn the right to be part of the group. They should be part of the group by right of being human. This may mean that we may need to provide certain supports to enable them to participate, whether those are physical (making room for wheelchairs) or more spiritually supportive (allowing people to be as independent as they can).
- Community Belonging and Participation: All projects should seek to improve community belonging and participation. Perhaps you project can open up clubs or activities to persons with ASD that otherwise would not be open to them.
- Up to date and accurate information about autism: There is a lot of history to understanding autism and how it affects people. Over time, we have learned a lot about autism and we have grown out of old prejudices. Your project should reflect the current understanding of autism and how it affects people.
- Avoidance of generalizations and stereotypes: All human beings are unique individuals. All persons with autism are human. Therefore all persons with autism are unique individuals. While they may all have challenges in certain areas of development, they are first and foremost unique people. Projects should seek to not utilize generalizations about how autism affects people.
- Promotion of talents and strengths of those with autism: Projects should seek to highlight the talents of your friends and classmates with autism. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses and people with autism are no exception. Everyone has a talent.