Level Up
For Your School
The classroom remains one of the most significant learning environments in a child’s life.
By creating an inclusive, accepting, and compassionate classroom, ALL students will be able to thrive and achieve their individual potential.
Kid’s Guide to Autism Acceptance Sponsor
Level Up Your Classroom
There are many ways to help kids embrace, accept, and show respect for their peers on the autism spectrum.
Leading by Example
Former autism ambassador, Stephen Goodyear, helped educate younger grades by reading a book about autism. He set a positive example by talking about the importance of autism acceptance. →
Buddy-up | Create an autism awareness buddy program or other peer activity to support building friendships.
Plan a Lesson | Use our Autism Awareness lesson plans or A Kid’s Guide to Autism Acceptance for activities.
Read Aloud | Share a book and have a group discussion.
Fact-A-Day | Start each day by sharing a fact about autism throughout the month of April.
Decorate | Incorporate Autism Awareness messages into a bulletin board or your classroom décor.
Guest Speakers | Invite a parent, sibling, or educator to talk about autism acceptance.
Kindness Challenge | Encourage students to complete daily acts of kindness and inclusion.
Bookmark Contest
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Bookmark Contest *
Encourage your students to enter Autism New Jersey’s 2025 Autism Awareness Bookmark Contest! It’s free, gets kids thinking about autism acceptance, and is fun! The winner has their art featured on the 2026 bookmarks. Download a contest form>>
LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES
Thoughts on Making Friends From Our Ambassadors
Tim Rohrer shares his story to educate students about making connections and developing friendships with individuals with autism. High school was not an easy time for Tim. His experiences fueled him to strive for change. He authored and illustrated a children's book, Timmy’s Story: A Story About Autism and Friendship! Read more about Tim>>
Ambassador Rylee Howerton is dedicating her time to educate fellow students with her Choose Wise Words campaign. After overhearing her peers use the “r-word,” she set out to end the use of harmful words. Rylee has authored a book, and was recently crowned “North Jersey’s Outstanding Teen” for her outstanding efforts. Read her inspiring story>>
LEVEL UP For Teachers & Staff
Here are some ideas to promote autism awareness to other teachers and staff in your school.
Engage your school!
Longtime ambassador Angie Tener celebrates the autism community every April by decorating bulletin boards and planning fun events and activities. →
Combat bullying by sharing resources to bring attention to this important issue that disproportionally affects students with disabilities.
Share the link to our ambassador hub with your colleagues. www.autismnjambassador.org
Organize a school-wide Dress Down Day for autism awareness. Visit our fundraising section for tips to Level Up your event!
Print out an autism fact sheet and add to teacher mailboxes.
Create staff challenges or dares as incentives for students and faculty to raise funds for autism.
PLAN AN ACTIVITY!
End-of-Year Walk or Run | Organize a school-wide event like Laps for Learning to get students moving for a cause. Create sensory-friendly break areas along the route and have stickers for all participants!
Poster Contest | Engage each grade in creating posters that promote autism awareness. Encourage students to incorporate positive messages that foster themes of acceptance.
Autism Awareness Bake Sale | Sell themed cookies in the cafeteria to raise funds and awareness. Bake cookies in the shape of a ribbon and hand out stickers to all who purchase a yummy treat!
FACTS FOR EDUCATORS & KIDS
Check out these resources perfect to enhance your classroom acceptance activities. Click here to have some of our most popular tools shipped directly to your home or school!
Level Up For Your District
One voice can be impactful but imagine what an entire school district can achieve together. Collaboration is key to making a difference for students with autism.
Dressing the Part
Each year Byram School district has an opportunity for a student to design an autism awareness t-shirt that they sell for the annual Dress Down Day in April. →
Bring on the spirit! | Plan a district-wide spirit week in April for autism awareness.
Involve your PTO | Request parent volunteers for an Autism Awareness committee to organize activities and events.
DO something fun | Learn about our free Do-A-Thon and easily organize a district-wide event to help raise funds for autism.
Share information | Forward an Ambassador Connection e-newsletter to students’ parents with information about autism.
Dine to Donate Fundraiser | Partner with local restaurants to raise funds and use our custom Dine to Donate flyers.
Level Up Your Fundraising
Fun & Easy Ways to build Autism Acceptance while supporting Autism New Jersey’s mission!
Looking for creative ways to raise funds and awareness at your school? Check out these engaging ideas to get your community involved!
Classroom Champions
Rice Elementary School in Marlton, NJ leveled up acceptance with a Color Run and Sensory Walk for their school community! Adding to the excitement, student entrepreneur Riley, founder of Charmony Bracelets, sold her vibrant handmade jewelry to raise funds for Autism New Jersey—both at the event and in a Medford, NJ store. →
Ice Cream Social | Bring friends, family, and the community together for a sweet way to support autism awareness. Set up quiet seating areas so everyone can enjoy the event comfortably.
Bingo Night | Host a fun-filled bingo night with prizes while raising funds! Use autism awareness-themed bingo boards featuring facts about autism to educate while you play.
Looking for more fundraising ideas? Find tip, tools, resources, and inspiration in our fundraising section>>
KIDS LOVE STICKERS!
Order our FREE stickers for your students to wear on World Autism Awareness Day or autism awareness spirit day!
Devereux’s sponsorship, helped to underwrite Autism New Jersey’s Ambassador Healthcare Resources—an essential collection of tools designed to enhance autism-friendly practices in healthcare settings.