Sports as Soft Power: Are these autism campaigns in U.S. professional sports leagues autistic approved?
It’s April. The month most notable for the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” Besides that, there are several observances happening throughout the month in the United States, including Financial Literacy Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, among others. The most important and personal to me is Autism Awareness Month.
I was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at three years old, receiving early intervention and special education care from preschool until third grade. I’ve regularly seen a therapist since eighth grade and take a variety of medications to make it through the day without having a sensory breakdown. It is not fun to live with, but unlike what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thinks, I’ve filed taxes, have a job, written poems (begrudgingly, I hate poems), been on dates, and can use a toilet unassisted.
So I’m taking this article as an opportunity to combine two things I love: sports and autism awareness. In the four major U.S. sports leagues, they’ve hosted events and created campaigns with the hope of highlighting the importance of autism awareness. However, some of these well-intentioned gestures spread incorrect information. Thus, I am here to share whether these events portray autism positively or negatively, and give my autistic approval rating. All of this is my opinion, and some autistic people will disagree with me, so take my ratings with a grain of salt.
Autism Speaks My Cause. My Cleats. (NFL)
The National Football League allows players to don custom-designed cleats for a specific charity of their choice for one weekend of the season. Then, the cleats are auctioned off, with the proceeds going to said foundation. For the 2025 season, 25 different players from 14 NFL teams chose Autism Speaks as their charity. However, there is one big issue with this: Autism Speaks.
The non-profit group, founded in 2005, has been a source of controversy in the autistic community, with the biggest being their goal of ‘curing’ autism. Autism Speaks does this by funding research, such as finding a prenatal test for autism, so mothers don’t have autistic babies. This is similar to eugenics, the process of producing offspring with or without specific traits, which has been a huge no-no since the time of a certain German mustache man. None of their leadership or board members are autistic, but some have autistic children, causing the issue of neurotypical people speaking on behalf of those on the spectrum. They don’t actually know what it’s like to live with autism; they just observe it. Lastly, watch this YouTube video of an Autism Speaks advertisement. It truly speaks for itself (pun intended).
Autistic approval rating: Hard no. 0%
Matt Olson’s Player’s Weekend Cleats (MLB)
Similar to the NFL, Major League Baseball allows players to wear custom cleats, charity or no charity, during Players’ Weekend. In 2025, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson had cleats with red and black puzzle pieces, the phrase ‘Autism Acceptance’ in white, and the logo of the charity ReClif Community.
The charity was founded by Reese Blankenship, a non-verbal autistic person, and his family. They have their own autism-focused fitness center, organize sensory-friendly events, host educational lectures, and provide financial support for autistic individuals to access the care they need. While Olson’s Georgia-based charity choice is an excellent one, there is an issue with the cleats. The puzzle pieces on them are often associated with autism, but it is a logo created by Autism Speaks that implies there is something inherently missing from autistic people’s brains. The preferred symbol is the infinity sign, signaling the uniqueness of each person on the spectrum.
Autistic approval rating: Very close. 95%
Head Coaches’ Customized Sneakers (NBA)
Now approaching its third year in 2026, the custom sneaker campaign sees all 30 National Basketball Association head coaches wear said shoes during a week of NBA games at the beginning of April. It was started by Utah Jazz assistant coach Scott Morrison and his wife, Susanne, to support To the Max Foundation, an organization they created in honor of their autistic son, Max.
The non-profit focuses on helping autistic individuals celebrate their neurodiversity and live life to the max. To the Max Foundation coordinates sensory-friendly sports viewing experiences and organises a charity golf tournament. The sneakers are very cool, with the correct representation of the rainbow infinity sign, the word acceptance in a bubbly font, and they match the NBA teams’ colors (see Oklahoma City and Denver). Plus, every head coach participates!
Autistic approval rating: Perfect! 100%
Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation (NFL)
There were other cleats part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats that supported autism awareness, but not Autism Speaks. They represented The Eagles Autism Foundation and were worn by Philadelphia Eagles players Fred Johnson and DeVonta Smith. The actual charity was founded by Eagles owner and CEO Jeffrey Lurie, whose brother is autistic. The Eagles Autism Foundation even created a sensory room at Lincoln Financial Field in 2023, a place for autistic fans to relax and recharge.
According to their 2025 impact report, the foundation funded research projects, supported community initiatives, and provided grants to businesses helping people on the spectrum. While the non-profits provide excellent support for autistic individuals throughout their whole lives, most of the research leans more towards looking for a ‘cure’ model. One of the awards went towards a project developing a gene edit for autism, while a grant to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Autism Research supports identifying a cause in order to develop treatments. One of the non-profits, St. John of God Community Services, uses the term special needs in its description, a euphemism hated amongst the neurodivergent community. Just say disabled. It’s what we are.
Autistic approval rating: Halfway there. 50%
Pucks For Autism Tour (NHL)
This non-profit creates an inclusive environment for autistic people through hockey. Pucks for Autism hosts hockey tournaments across the United States for all ages and levels. This season, they’ve also hosted games before or after NHL matches in NHL arenas! Pucks for Autism played games in 13 cities across the U.S., such as Denver, Chicago, St. Paul, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. All of the proceeds Pucks for Autism makes go towards grants to organizations that support autistic individuals and promote inclusion.
Autistic approval rating: Awesome except for the puzzle piece jerseys. 95%
An absolutely horrible image that says “Autism is my superpower” with a Superman symbol filled with puzzle pieces. Autistic people hate that phrase because autism is not an enjoyable disorder to have - via Adobe Stock
Autism Awareness Day at Target Field (MLB)
The Minnesota Twins hosted a ballpark test run event on May 28, 2025, allowing autistic children to experience the fun of a baseball game without the added stress of sensory triggers. Families arrived early at the park, went through a special security entrance, got a tour of the ballpark, and sat in their very own section. Target Field even has its own sensory room, similar to Lincoln Financial Field’s in Philadelphia, mentioned earlier.
Section 103, the section designated, is on the first base side in right field. It is a large section, with two other large sections on either side, so it could have been quite noisy there. You never know what rowdy and/or drunk fans can do in the stands. The positives of the location are that the right field entrance is close and the suite where the sensory room is located is directly a floor above. It is a great event to get autistic children used to what it’s like at a baseball game, even though the Twins lost 5-0 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Autistic Approval Rating: Remove special needs on the website. But a good event! 90%
Brandon Bussi donates $10K to Autism Society (NHL)
The Carolina Hurricanes signed goalie Brandon Bussi to a new three- year deal on February 16, 2026. One of the caveats of said agreement was that the Hurricanes would donate $10,000 to the Autism Society of North Carolina. Brandon’s brother is autistic and uses his platform as an athlete to raise awareness.
The organization offers several services, including a camp for autistic children and adults, community centers with training and workshops for young adults, and connections with clinical services. They even have an Autistic Adults Advisory Board, which is great! Getting suggestions and information from actual autistic people is ideal for making the organization inclusive to all. However, their press fact sheet I linked earlier uses Asperger’s Syndrome, an outdated diagnostic term. Hans Asperger, the namesake of the diagnosis and the first to discover autism, was a German scientist who worked in eugenics for the Nazis. Hence, autism spectrum disorder is now the clinical term.
One last thing I wanted to point out is Bussi’s goalie facemask, worn during games. He uses it to raise awareness for autism, but it has those dreaded puzzle pieces all over it. The rainbow butterflies are cool, though.
Autistic Approval Rating: Great charity! Please stop spreading puzzle piece propaganda. 85%
Feature image by Jonathan Y. Eden from Disabled And Here stock collection.
