Sanctioned by the United Nations, World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated globally on 2^nd April every year. The month of April is considered World Autism Month, where different charities and organisations around the world mark the day with awareness-raising activities.

This year will mark the 15^th year of celebrating World Autism Awareness Day worldwide. This year allies and supporters are committed to creating a world where people with autism are given opportunities to reach their full potential.

This year the UN will be marking the occasion by looking at ways that children with autism can receive equal education opportunities. Due to COVID-19 and online schooling, many of those with autism were affected disproportionately. Online schooling was difficult for many children but for those with developmental disorders, it was especially difficult. Many of the support systems and routines in place for children on the autism spectrum were disrupted or eliminated during the pandemic.

About World Autism Awareness Day

World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated differently around the world. In the United Kingdom, often the week around World Autism Day is marked as World Autism Week. In the US, the month of April is marked as World Autism Month.

The UN first marked World Autism Awareness Day in 2007 when they declared that anyone suffering from Autism has the right to self-determination, autonomy and independence. This includes the right to education and full-time employment.

Supporters and allies around the world agree that Autism awareness is not the goal, but accepting people with autism is what we should all be striving to achieve.

According to the National Health Service (NHS), autism affects around 1% of the UK population. Autism is a condition that does not have a cure but can be managed, and if treated at a young age can have significant positive outcomes.

Common FAQs About Autism:

• Is autism an illness?

No, is not an illness rather it means you are born different from others. It is something that affects how your brain works. It does not have a cure but can be managed with different therapies and support.

• Can autistic people live a full life?

Yes, autistic people can live a full life like normal people. You can make friends, have relationships and get a job. You just may need support with these things.

• Does everyone have the same degree of autism?

No, it is on a spectrum. Some people may need more help with things, while others need less. Some may need a full-time caregiver while others may not.

• Are there other names for autism?

Yes, there are. Some people may use autism spectrum disorder, autism spectrum condition or Asperger’s syndrome.

Why is World Autism Awareness Day So Important?

Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day is a time to show understanding and acceptance toward people who live with it. With around 700,000 people in the UK diagnosed with autism, others need to be aware of what kind of difficulties people with this disorder can face.

Everyday activities that we take for granted can be difficult for individuals with autism. For example:

• They may find it hard to communicate and talk to people
• They may find it hard to understand how other people feel and think
• They may find bright lights and loud noises uncomfortable
• They may find new situations stressful
• They may take longer to answer questions
• They may do the same thing over and over again

If we can understand that people with autism may interact differently, it will be easier for us to accept them and provide support in situations they may need. With understanding and learning comes recognition and familiarity with how to interrelate.

Ways Supporters can Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day

Interested in getting involved this World Autism Awareness Day, but not sure how? Let us look at some of the ways you can participate in your community and individually:  

Wear Blue

If you want a simple and easy way to support autism, it can be as simple as wearing blue. Blue is the colour chosen around the world to show solidarity for those who have autism. This is done in several ways: such as lighting up buildings, having your employees wear blue to work or even just changing your social media profile pictures to the colour blue.

Support an Autism Charity

If you want to show your autism support, then learn about organisations and charities in your community that centre on providing awareness about autism. You can reach out to them and volunteer your time or just pay a visit to learn more.

Learn about Famous People with Autism

If you want to learn more about autism, a great way is to look up famous people who have it. For example, did you know that Dan Aykroyd and Darryl Hannah both famous actors have autism? Or for example, the Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg also has autism.

Learning about other people who have autism will help us understand how not everyone who has autism is the same. It will also give us give context to what people with autism can achieve.

Support Autism-Friendly Businesses and Employers

You can support autism-friendly businesses and employers in your community. If you know of an organisation that goes out of its way to employ people with autism or make special arrangements for their autistic employees; then be sure to give that establishment your business.

Watch or Listen to Something Created by a Person with Autism

If you want to learn more about autism, and what it means to live with it, watch a movie or listen to a podcast of someone who has it. First-hand accounts are a great way to get perspective and learn more about how people are living day to day with something like autism. There are some great blogs, films and podcasts created by people with autism. A few that inspired us:

• Pablo - animated cartoon for children on YouTube
• Love on the Spectrum - Netflix series about the dating world for people with autism
• Musings of Aspie - blog series by Cynthia Kim who has autism
• Aspie World - a podcast about Dan Morgan Jones

Be Present on Social Media and Advocate

Another great way to raise awareness about autism is to share an informational post on social media. Social media is a great way to raise awareness among the people in your network who may not know about autism and want to learn more about it. Be an advocate and spread awareness-raising messages.

Fun Classroom Activities for World Autism Day

To encourage other children at school to learn about autism, teachers should plan activities throughout the year and especially during April. For example, they could pass worksheets to students that have fun activities they can do to learn more about autism. They can also pass sensory toys to children in the classroom who might enjoy playing with them. This would make children with autism feel more accepted.

Start a Fundraiser for Your Favourite Autism Charity

Why not start a fundraiser for your favourite autism charity before World Autism Awareness Day. That would be a great way to get your friends and family involved in an important cause and raise awareness. You could set a benchmark amount of how much you would like to raise and work towards that.

Read Books about Autism

You can pick up some books about autism for yourself and your family members. Learning more about something is a great way to create awareness for yourself and your children. Books featuring people with autism or written by people with autism can give you new insights into what it means to live on the autism spectrum.

Books You Can Buy for World Autism Awareness Day

Here are some great book picks you can pick up for World Autism Awareness Day. Some of these books are great for kids and some are for parents.

Introducing books about autism to your children will help to build knowledge and understanding of how to interact with people with autism. If they have a child with autism in their class, reading a book about what it feels like to deal with autism will give them a perspective that will help them interact with their classmate. 

   

Mark World Autism Awareness Day by Reading a Book

Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day 2022 by taking part in some of the activities we have mentioned above or by grabbing a great book for yourself and your child. World Autism Awareness Day is a great way to learn more about those on the autism spectrum and how you can support them.

April is autism awareness month around the world, be sure to explore what other countries around the world are doing to raise awareness about autism. On 2^nd April, be sure to wear blue and encourage your friends, co-workers and family to learn more about autism.

Connect with Austin Macauley Publishers for more such blogs and submit your manuscript if you are looking for publishing your work. You can also make a quick and easy submission through the online submission form. You can stay updated with our new releases and activities by joining our family of authors and readers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.