World Autism Awareness Day April 2
Introduction
Every year on April 2nd, we commemorate World Autism Awareness Day to raise public awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a highly variable neurodevelopmental disorder that causes difficulties in social communication and is characterised by restricted and repetitive behaviours. The symptoms of ASD can be seen as early as infancy, which is cause for concern. Autism is not a new disorder; it has existed for decades. However, because many people are unaware of the disorder, it is critical to educate people by holding an Autism Awareness Day and raising global awareness.
World Autism Awareness Day emphasises the importance of helping people with autism improve their quality of life to live a meaningful life as an essential part of society. The UN General Assembly has declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.
Let's learn more about the Worold Autism Awareness Day.
What Is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism is a complex condition that involves communication and behaviour challenges. Autism is considered a life-long disorder and can be a minor problem or a major one where an individual needs full-time care and special facilities.
Autism is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder. A broad term for this type of disorder is Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). When genetic or environmental factors together start to affect the development of the brain, it is called a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Often this type of disorder is detected in childhood, but in some rare cases, it goes undetected. Many types of disorders come in Neurodevelopmental Disorder, one of which is Autism Spectrum Disorder.
In autism spectrum disorder, humans have difficulty communicating with each other. Repetition is seen in the behaviour of people with this disorder.
Saying the same words over and over, avoiding socializing with other children, lashing out at refusing wrongdoing, self-harming, sabotaging, or babbling loudly is an autism developmental disability that occurs during the first three years of life.
History of World Autism Awareness Day
World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated internationally on 2 April every year to spread awareness about autism. The day encourages the member states of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness of people with autism spectrum disorder around the world.
This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/62/139). World Autism Awareness Day was passed unanimously by the Council on 1 November 2007 and was adopted on 18 December 2007.
The day was proposed by Mojah bint Nasser Al-Misneed, the United Nations representative from Qatar and consort to Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
The first World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated on 02 April 2008. World Autism Awareness Day highlights the need to help and improve the quality of life of people living with autism so that they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.
Objective of World Autism Awareness Day
Autism rates are very high in all regions of the world and the lack of awareness and understanding of this disorder has a tremendous impact on individuals, their families and communities.
The stigma and discrimination associated with neurological differences remain substantial barriers to diagnosis and treatment. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by both public policymakers in developing countries as well as developed countries.
World Autism Awareness Day aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with autism, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
Autism sufferers should not be hated, but they should be loved and such children should be taken care of, assuming that even a child with autism can lead a normal life.
The exact cause of autism is not yet known, but scientists believe it may be linked to genetic or environmental factors. There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, but language therapy, occupational therapy, educational support and many other interventions can help children with autism and their parents.
Significance of World Autism Awareness Day
1- Autism Spectrum Disorder is brought to the attention of the world: World Autism Awareness Day plays an important role in raising awareness and informing people about disorders that can occur or identified at early age in life, such as ASD. Most of the time, new parents find it difficult to care for their child and, due to a lack of knowledge, ignore the strange activities of their child or children, which later results in saviour problems. Knowing about the disorder will allow one to easily identify the problem and expose them to earlier treatment options.
2- Encourages and support people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The day is crucial in bringing people from all over the world together to raise awareness and spread information about the Autism disorder. It also helps to change stereotypes about people with Autism and other disabilities, ultimately removing the barriers that separated the normal from the disabled.
3- Increases the number of people who are willing to help in the face of global concern.
The day focuses on activities such as donating and self-volunteering among young people to lend a hand in combating global challenges and making a difference in the world.
Activities of World Autism Awareness Day
1- Raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): It is the most effective way to ensure your responsibility and participation in the global event in making a difference. You can spread awareness about the day through thousands of medium today in this technological era, where social media has grown as an effective way for raising awareness, especially among the young.
2- Make a donation or organise a fundraiser: This is the simplest and most effective method to participate in World Autism Awareness Day; donating a modest portion of your salary to public well-being will have a significant impact on changing the situation.
3- Assist those in your community who are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder: You can help people with Autism Disorders in a variety of ways, including making social contact with them and being friendly and kind to them and more will help in improving their health.
How to Observe World Autism Awareness Day
Share information online: Even nowadays when almost everyone has access to information, there are still many people that don't know about autism and the characteristics of people with it. Become an advocate for the autistic community by educating the masses. In a nutshell, share information with people who don’t know about autism and educate them about the characteristics of people with it.
Get involved with autism associations: There are many people who either have autism or have a family member with autism and are a part of community-wide, nation-wide, or global-wide association. Get in contact with them to get involved in any activities planned for the day. In a nutshell, get involved with Autism associations and help people with autism with their activities planned for the day.
Take care of the people with autism spectrum diagnosis you know: World Autism Awareness Day is the perfect day to have a good time with your friends who are diagnosed with autism! Make sure to plan sensory-sensitive activities for you both to enjoy and pack gluten-free and casein-free foods to share. In a nutshell, the World Autism Awareness Day is the perfect day to spend time with your relatives and friends diagnosed with autism. Plan some sensory-sensitive activities to enjoy with them for the day!
World Autism Awareness Day Facts
Let’s learn some of the lesser-known World Autism Awareness Day facts:
1. Approximately every 1 in 59 children was diagnosed with autism in 2018.
2. Autism can be diagnosed at a young age of two, and early intervention offers the best chance of supporting wellbeing.
3. Gastrointestinal disorders and persistent sleep disorders are more common in children with autism than in normal children.
4. Autism is one of the rapidly growing developmental disorders in the UN and is more common than childhood cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined.
5. At present, there is no medical detection or cure for Autism disorder.
Quotes on World Autism Awareness Day
Here are some quotes from known profiles on International Autism Day:
1. Everyone has a mountain to climb, and autism has not been my mountain, it has been my opportunity for victory. — Rachel Barcellona
2. Autism is as much a part of humanity as is the capacity to dream. — Kathleen Seidel
3. Autism… offers a chance for us to glimpse an awe-filled vision of the world that might otherwise pass us by. — Dr. Colin Zimbleman
4. Autism: Where the “randomness of life” collides and clashes with an individual’s need for the sameness. — Eileen Miller
5. Autism doesn’t have to define a person. Artists with autism are like anyone else. They define themselves through hard work and individuality. — Adrienne Bailon
6. The difference between high-functioning and low-functioning is that high-functioning means your deficits are ignored, and low-functioning means your assets are ignored. –Laura Tisoncik
7. When enough people care about autism or diabetes or global warming, it helps everyone, even if only a tiny fraction actively participate. –Seth Godin
8. To measure the success of our societies, we should examine how well those with different abilities, including persons with autism, are integrated as full and valued members. — Ban Ki-Moon
9. We need to learn to accept and celebrate our differences. And we need to continue our research in Autism Spectrum Disorder in order to understand how we can best lend a helping hand. — Alan Rosales
10. We’ve come a long way when it comes to awareness — now it’s time for people to accept autism, allowing people, like myself, to be ourselves and benefit society along the way. — Savan Gandecha
Autism is a global health issue, and awareness about the same should increase by spotlighting the hindrances the people with autism face in their daily lives. This year, let’s pledge to acknowledge and advocate for the rights of individuals with autism worldwide.
Themes of World Autism Awareness Day
The following are the themes of World Autism Awareness Day from 2015 to 2022:
Theme 2022: 'Inclusive Quality Education for All'
It is intrinsically linked with last year's theme, emphasising the critical importance of education for people on the autism spectrum in realising their full potential and achieving long-term employment success.
Theme 2021: 'Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World'.
The theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2022 highlights the global challenges and inequalities people are facing in the aftermath of the pandemic, including unequal treatment and income distribution, an inadequate health-care system for all classes, and more. People with Autism Disorder have long been subjected to social inequity, which has become even more pronounced as a result of the global epidemic.
Theme 2020: 'The Transition to Adulthood'
Being an adult entails being self-sufficient and participating equally in the social, economic, and political life of one's community. However, for people with Autism, becoming an independent adult is a huge challenge because there is no support and few chances in the career, leaving them behind. As a result, it's critical to call attention to concerns about the transition to adulthood.
Theme 2019: 'Assistive Technologies'
The 2019 theme emphasises the critical importance of technology in today's world, including how technology aids in development and how it aids those with disabilities, such as Autism, in living a normal life. In addition, the theme emphasises that assistive technology are costly and unavailable to the majority of people due to a lack of expertise.
Theme 2018: 'Empowering Women and Girls with Autism'
Women have been limited or kept behind for centuries, not because of their ability, but because of sterotypes and discrimination by men; regrettably, women and girls suffering from Autism have been particularly exposed to unequal treatment and discrimination; thus, it is time to support women and girls and be concerned about the issues they face.
Theme 2017: Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination
Theme 2016: Autism and the 2030 Agenda: Inclusion and Neurodiversity
Theme 2015: Employment: The Autism Advantage
World Autism Awareness Symbols
When autism is depicted publicly and in the media, it is displayed as a colourful condition with various symptoms. As a result, it has several symbols and colours associated with it. Here are some of these listed below:
The Rainbow Infinity Symbol
Rainbow colours represent the range of Autism symptoms and individuals with autism’s abilities and challenges.
The Colour Blue
The blue colour is associated with a calm feeling and acceptance of people with autism. The “Light it Up Blue” campaign calls for people to wear blue to promote autism awareness worldwide.
The Puzzle Piece
Many people feel that people with autism do not fit societal expectations and social circles. Therefore, the use of this symbol has garnered both positive and negative attention.
The Butterfly Symbol
Suggested replacement for the puzzle piece, the butterfly symbol inspires thoughts of change and represents the beauty of diversity and continued development.
The Infinity Symbol
Like the butterfly symbol, the infinity symbol also inspires thoughts of inclusivity for people on the spectrum.
