April used to be known as “Autism Awareness Month.”

Starting in 2021, the name was changed to “Autism Acceptance Month.”

And it’s a word change that’s substantive, not cosmetic.

Lakeshore Community Services is holding a Thursday event for Autism Acceptance Day at the Struthers Library Theatre that proves it.

“I think what really the big push is now, and our desire too, people with autism can have very functional lives,” Joe Lang, Lakeshore marketing director said. “Just because you have some type of disability” doesn’t mean you can’t hold down a job or live a normal life.

“(We are) trying to normalize, as much as we can, people on the spectrum.”

The event Thursday kicks off at 11 a.m. with remarks by President Judge Maureen Skerda followed by a presentation by William Stillman, called the “Autism Whisperer” by a talk show host for his “innate ability to understand and interpret children and adults on the autism spectrum,” according to his website.

He’s also an author and his 2006 book Autism and the God Connection peaked at #22 on amazon.com.

“Just really our mission is trying to increase awareness about autism,” Lang said.

After Stillman’s presentation, Lakeshore will present its BLUE (Believe, Love, Understand, Embrace) Award at 1 p.m.