World Autism Awareness Day

Since April 2 of 2008, the world has recognized World Autism Awareness Day as part of World Autism Awareness Month. The purpose is to “promote the full participation of all people with autism, and ensure they have the necessary support to be able to exercise their rights and fundamental freedoms.” People all over the world bring awareness by wearing blue on this day.

In many places throughout the world, autism-friendly events and educational activities are planned for the whole month to bring understanding and acceptance from worldwide support (World Autism Awareness Day).

However, this year the United Nations Headquarters New York is focusing more on the importance of empowering women and girls with autism. This is to express to others that girls with disabilities are less likely to complete school and more likely denied access to an education.

Furthermore, these women have a lower rate of employment compared to men with disabilities. Globally, women are known to experience many different types of violence rather than men . Overall, these are only a few challenges that women and girls with disabilities face.

The use of #LightItUpBlue all over social media shows the worldwide empowerment of people embracing this day, so go check it out! Yet, this is not the end of the support people around the world give. Many places such as the White House, the Empire State Building, and Niagara Falls have been lit in blue on April 2 (2018 World Autism).

If you would like to help support this awareness, you can finish out this April by helping with fundraisers and letting other people know about this event. Just something as simple as that can help substantially. Or, you can always wait until next year and wear blue on April 2, so get your blue on!

Division for Social Policy and Development Disability. United Nations Enable, 2018, un.org/development/desa/disabilities/news/dspd/waad2018. Accessed 2 April 2018.

World Autism Awareness Day. Autism Speaks, 2018, autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day. Accessed 2 April 2018.