April is Autism Acceptance Month — a time when we build on our autism awareness and come together to learn, share, and celebrate the amazing individuals on the autism spectrum. If you’re a parent of an infant or toddler showing autism signs, this month holds special meaning, but even if you’re not, understanding autism symptoms and celebrating neurodiversity helps us all create a more inclusive community. In this blog post, Brighton shares insight on the signs of autism that parents should keep an eye out for and the autism resources in San Antonio available to parents.

Understanding Autism: How Our Perspective Has Evolved

For decades, autism was deeply misunderstood. In the 50s and 60s, parents (especially mothers) were wrongly blamed for their children’s autism — a heartbreaking theory that’s been completely debunked. Additionally, many autistic children and adults were put into homes or “hidden away” rather than being given the support and accessibility they deserved.

Today, we recognize that autism signs include differences in communication and social skills, and the presence of highly focused deep interests and/or repetitive regulating behaviors. Many no longer view autism as a ‘disorder’ and autistic adults report seeing and interpreting the world differently from neuro-typical peers. In fact, we now recognize that “neurodiversity” is a natural and valuable part of human variation. We live in a neurodiverse society where both neurotypical and neurodivergent people add to the richness of the human experience.

Recognizing Signs of Autism in Infants and Toddlers

Many parents with autism awareness say that they noticed early signs of autism characteristics in their child’s development. Common autism signs in infants and toddlers include:

• Lack of eye contact
• Not responding to their name by their first birthday
• Strong reactions to certain sounds or textures
• Developing language differently than peers
• Limited social engagement or interest in others
• Absence of pointing to show interest
• Lack of pretend play

Remember: You know your child better than anyone. If you notice these autism signs or other developmental concerns, trust your instincts and talk to your pediatrician. Brighton Center offers a no-cost evaluation for families with autism awareness who may notice their child isn’t meeting early milestones like making eye contact, smiling, or babbling.

Getting an Autism Diagnosis in San Antonio

While autism can often be diagnosed around age 2, many children don’t receive an autism diagnosis until later. The autism diagnosis process in San Antonio involves developmental screenings, assessments, and conversations with specialists. It can feel like a long road, but an early diagnosis of autism can open so many doors to helpful therapies and support.

The autism diagnosis journey typically includes:

1. Initial screening by a pediatrician
2. Comprehensive evaluation by specialists
3. Assessment of developmental milestones
4. Observation of social communication and behavior
5. Formal autism diagnosis and recommendations for intervention

San Antonio families have several options for autism diagnosis, including:

• Brighton Center’s evaluation services
• Autism Community Network diagnostic services
• Children’s hospitals and developmental pediatricians
• University-based autism assessment clinics

Early Intervention for Autism

With regards to autism awareness, if there’s one thing Brighton wants parents to understand this Autism Acceptance Month, it’s this: you don’t have to navigate autism alone. Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) can be transformative for infants and toddlers with autism and their families. These specialized programs provide critical support during the first few years of life when the brain is most adaptable and responsive to therapy.

For infants and toddlers with autism, ECI typically begins as soon as developmental concerns arise, often before a formal diagnosis of autism is given. Children exhibiting signs or characteristics of autism can benefit from Brighton Center’s individualized ECI services:

• Our speech therapists help autistic children develop communication skills, whether verbal or through alternative communication systems.
• Occupational therapy can address sensory processing challenges and help develop daily living skills.
• Physical therapists help autistic infants and toddlers with coordination and motor planning difficulties.
• Behavioral interventions can reduce behavior concerns.
• Parent coaching is also available and empowers families to support their child’s development at home.

What makes ECI especially effective is its family-centered approach. Rather than working in isolation with the child, Brighton’s specialists collaborate with parents, providing training and strategies that can be integrated into everyday routines. Additionally, our ECI Specialists are trained in Early Autism Intervention strategies through the Pathways Parent Training Program. This program has proven effective for developing the early social communication skills of social engagement and verbal reciprocity in toddlers. Our case managers can also help families locate additional autism resources in San Antonio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Parenting a Child with Autism

Let’s be honest — seeing signs of autism in your child and getting an autism diagnosis in San Antonio can feel overwhelming. Suddenly you’re navigating physical and speech therapy, learning about sensory needs, and maybe communication differences. You might be creating detailed routines, using visual schedules, or adapting your home to help your child thrive. You may struggle to find autism support or resources in San Antonio.

The tough days? They’re real. Those moments when others don’t understand your child’s meltdown in the grocery store, or when family members offer unhelpful advice. But here’s what so many parents discover: this journey reveals strengths you never knew you had. You become an incredible advocate, you celebrate victories others might miss, and you develop a special kind of patience and understanding.

And those moments when your child connects with you in their own unique way? Pure magic. Upon learning and accepting their child’s autism diagnosis, parents say they begin to see the world differently — more directly, more honestly, more beautifully — through their child’s eyes. Autism Acceptance Month is a chance for you to celebrate your child’s unique abilities and perspective of the world, and help spread autism awareness.

How you can celebrate your child and the San Antonio autistic community this month:

1. Empower and encourage your child to be authentically who they are.
2. Support your child’s special interests, sensory needs, differences in social interactions, and communication differences.
3. Wear red or gold and use the infinity symbol to represent the autistic community.
4. Find and follow autistic individuals on social media to gain insight on their perspectives and learn about their experiences.
5. Advocate for inclusion and acceptance of all individuals who may differ from neurotypical.
6. Celebrate the diversity that autistic individuals add to our world.

Autism Resources in San Antonio

Connecting with other parents who have autism awareness and “get it” can be life changing. Support groups offer a place for autism acceptance where you don’t have to explain or apologize. These connections can provide practical advice (like which sensory-friendly events are worth attending), emotional support, and sometimes just a much-needed laugh about the unique situations autism parents find themselves in.

San Antonio and Bexar County residents are fortunate to have some amazing autism resources right at your fingertips:

1. Any Baby Can provides autism parenting education and a community group.
2. Autism Community Network can help with diagnosing signs of autism, therapy connections, and bringing parents together.
3. Autism Society of Texas – San Antonio hosts events where families can connect and share resources.
4. Respite Care of San Antonio understands that parents need breaks too — their services can give you that essential time to recharge.

Supporting the Autism Community

Want to support autism awareness, acceptance and the families in our San Antonio community? Here are some heartfelt ways to make a real difference:

1. Be curious and open — Learn about autism from autistic individuals themselves. Their perspectives are invaluable.
2. Create inclusive spaces — Whether it’s a birthday party, playdate, or community event, think about how to make everyone feel welcome.
3. Offer a helping hand — Sometimes the biggest support is the simplest: offering to pick up groceries, watch siblings for an hour, or just checking in with “How are YOU doing?”
4. Listen more than you advise — Sometimes parents just need someone to hear them without trying to fix everything.
5. Embrace differences — Help your own children understand that different isn’t wrong — it’s just different.

We’re All in This Together this Autism Acceptance Month

This Autism Acceptance Month let’s go beyond just autism awareness. Let’s aim for true understanding, acceptance, and celebration of the wonderful diversity of human minds.

For parents just starting this journey: there will be challenging days, but there will also be breakthroughs, joy, and a community waiting to embrace you. Moreover, you’ll discover strengths you never knew you had and witness your child blossom in their own unique way.

The world is slowly becoming more understanding and inclusive for people with autism — and that’s something we can all contribute to, one conversation, one act of kindness, one moment of acceptance at a time.

More on Brighton Center

Brighton is the largest non-profit providing direct services to children with disabilities and developmental delays in San Antonio. Each year, Brighton Center must raise more than three million dollars to maintain our services. On May 1, 2025, we will be hosting one of our biggest fundraising events of the year, Taste of Northside. It is a great way for community allies to show support for our Brighton families. Click here to purchase tickets or learn more about partnership opportunities.

Remember, you’re not alone. Brighton’s Early Childhood Intervention program can provide support, education, and guidance needed when you have questions about the signs of autism or want to know how autism is diagnosed. Our Special Education Support Specialists can also help families with autistic children prepare for the elementary classroom. Contact us today and let us know how we can partner with you.