World Autism Awareness Day 2016

world autism awareness day 2016

The eighth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2016. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. How will you celebrate?

About Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.

Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 children as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years. Careful research shows that this increase is only partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness. Studies also show that autism is four to five times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism.

Nearly two-thirds of children with autism have been bullied.

Each individual with autism is unique. Many of those on the autism spectrum have exceptional abilities in visual skills, music and academic skills. About 40 percent have average to above average intellectual abilities. Indeed, many persons on the spectrum take deserved pride in their distinctive abilities and “atypical” ways of viewing the world. Others with autism have significant disability and are unable to live independently. About 25 percent of individuals with ASD are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other means.

Nearly half of 25-year-olds with autism have never held a paying job.

There is no debate or doubt: early intervention is a child’s best hope for the future. Early attention to improving the core behavioral symptoms of autism will give a child – and the rest of the family – several important benefits that will not be gained with a take a wait-and-see approach until the child enters school at age four or five. 

A calendar of regional events created by the Federation annually. It lists all the activities organized by the organizations working in autism in Quebec.

The Quebec Federation of autism (FQA), is a provincial coalition of organizations which share the interests of the autistic person, his family and his family. For 40 years, the FQA is autism in reference to Quebec

This guest post is by Autism Speaks staffer Kerry Magro, a motivational speaker and best-selling author who’s on the autism spectrum. You can learn more about Kerry on Facebook and Twitter. This blog originally appeared here.

To everyone who will Light It Up Blue on World Autism Awareness Day

To everyone who will Light It Up Blue,

Wherever you are on April 2nd, you can make a huge difference for our community…

How? By turning the world BLUE!

Wear BLUE!

Light your homes BLUE!

Light your buildings where you work BLUE!

Be all the BLUE you can be!

For me going BLUE for autism is a cause close to my heart. When I was four I was diagnosed with autism. Growing up I wish there was an initiative like Light It Up BLUE to start a conversation with me.

To back track a bit for those reading this who don’t know, in 2007 the United Nations proclaimed April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day.

Two years later the Light It Up BLUE Campaign was born and even more awareness became possible in our communities. Now every year I wear my BLUE t-shirt on April 2, take a selfie pledging to go BLUE, and finally go to Home Depot or my local hardware store to purchase a BLUE light bulb so my house can go BLUE.

To me going BLUE is essential this year. Today autism is the fastest growing developmental disability out there. The number of individuals being diagnosed with autism when I was a kid was 1 in every 1000; today those numbers have increased over 100%. Every day our lives are touched by autism, whether it is in your immediate family, a friend, or maybe an acquaintance who you converse with over coffee every morning at work.

That’s why I’m thankful for people like you who go BLUE and, most of the time, stay BLUE throughout the entire month of April, Autism Awareness Month. I hope when you read this letter you know that you are making a difference by being involved with this important cause.

BLUE is so much more than just a color now to us. BLUE is a movement to help make people aware and more understanding of those with autism. For that I will be forever grateful for all of you who decide to get involved. With your continued support, we will make autism heard around the world, not only in April but all year out.

So in closing I hope you will make the below your mantra and encourage others to do the same. Keep telling yourself that…

“I will wear BLUE on April 2nd”

“I will light it up BLUE on April 2nd”

“I will help shine a light on the over 70 million individuals worldwide who have autism.”

“I will show people that autism is different and not less.”

“I will make a difference.”

Your friend,

Kerry

#LIUB

Join Light It Up Blue and pledge to wear blue or light your home or business blue!

Use #LIUB to share your experience across social media and help light the world up blue this April! Find out which major global landmarks will light up blue in 2016.

Explore more:  What is Autism,  ,  ,  ,  , ,  

The Quebec Federation of autism (FQA), is a provincial coalition of organizations which share the interests of the autistic person, his family and his family. For 40 years, the FQA is autism in reference to Quebec

Trait d’Union Outaouais is a non-profit organization based in the Ottawa area for over 25 years. We offer services to people with autism in the region to promote their integration into the community. Our services also go to the families of people with autism.