World Autism Awareness Day: Initiatives and Implications
Every year on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated. On this day, many choose to wear blue to represent their support towards the increasing of autism awareness. The day is an annual celebration dedicated to people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and aims to promote awareness for neurodivergence and developmental disorders such as ASD.
This special day was first introduced by Moza Bint Nasser Al-Missned, the United Nations Representative from Qatar. It was formally designated by the UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/62/139), after all member states of the UN unanimously supported the decision to declare April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. It was passed in council on November 1, 2007, and was later adopted on December 18, 2007. Soon after, in 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was introduced, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all. The convention was formed to protect those who suffer from discrimination or violence, including neurodivergent individuals such as children and adults with ASD, acting as a vital tool to foster an inclusive society for all.
As for Canada, a bill was introduced in the 2nd session of the 40th Parliament regarding the World Autism Awareness Day. The parliament later passed Bill S-206 on June 20, 2012, granting it Royal Assent and declaring it as law. This enactment officially declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day in Canada.
Though the day is set to be celebrated on April 2nd every year by the United Nations, some nations such as the United Kingdom choose to celebrate the entire week around the day. Other nations such as the United States celebrate World Autism Awareness Month all throughout April.
Although the day is often celebrated with the best intentions of embracing autism awareness, there are potential negative implications that often come with the day. Autism Awareness Day originally began with one main motive: to find a “cure” to autism. However, this message of combating ASD and seeing it as something that needs to be eliminated or destroyed is something that can have major effects on youths with ASD. It may give them a false idea about the societal portrayal of autism and their place in society. Therefore, it is important to also focus on autism acceptance and inclusion, rather than only spreading awareness.
How you can support and celebrate World Autism Awareness Day this year:
Wear blue – On World Autism Awareness Day, blue represents the support individuals have towards raising awareness. Incorporating blue into your outfit is a great way to make an impact on anyone you see on the streets.
Learn about the history of ASD – Learning about the history of the spectrum is a great way of showing and displaying the care you have for those with ASD. The world has come a long way in terms of research and treatment options for those with ASD, and being well knowledged on the facts of the disorder is a great way of letting them know how much you value their livelihood.
Appreciate the works of people with ASD – Explore and support the works of artists, authors, and creators with ASD. Unbeknownst to you, you may already have favourite creators who are on the spectrum.
Support ASD-friendly businesses and employers – A great way of supporting individuals with ASD is to support businesses actively working to be inclusive of autistic individuals. By assisting businesses actively hiring neurodiverse employees, you are helping create more opportunities for those with ASD.
Spread awareness in your community – If your community lacks knowledge on ASD, take initiative as an autism advocate. Stepping up to raise awareness, encourage engagement, and collect funds to donate to charities are great ways to get involved.
Listen to stories of individuals with ASD – When learning about information regarding ASD, you often hear it from those who are not on the spectrum themselves. Therefore, it is important to receive input from the perspective of those with ASD in order to make them feel heard.
World Autism Awareness Day is a great opportunity to improve your knowledge and understanding of the different experiences and characteristics of individuals with ASD. Utilise this special day to get involved and see the value autistic perspectives bring to communities, workplaces, and educational spaces.
References
Autism Speaks. (2019). World Autism Awareness Day | Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks.
https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-awareness-day
Bill S-210 (Historical) | openparliament.ca. (2024). Openparliament.ca.
https://openparliament.ca/bills/40-2/S-210/
Fay, C. (n.d.). 9 Ways to Celebrate World Autism Day! Blog.stageslearning.com.
https://blog.stageslearning.com/blog/9-ways-to-celebrate-world-autism-day
Magro, K. (n.d.). Why You Should Wear Blue on April 2 for World Autism Awareness Day. Autism
Speaks. https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/why-you-should-wear-blue-april-2-world-autism-awareness-day
Nations, U. (n.d.). World Autism Awareness Day - background. United Nations.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day/background
PediaPlex. (n.d.). How to Show Support on Autism Awareness Day: PediaPlex:
Www.pediaplex.net. https://www.pediaplex.net/blog/how-to-show-support-on-autism-awareness-day
Praslova, L. N. (2022, April 1). Your “Autism Awareness Day” Might Be Excluding Autistic People.
Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/04/your-autism-awareness-day-might-be-excluding-autistic-people
