World Autism Day is a day dedicated to celebrating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), improving our understanding of autism, and encouraging world autism awareness. The ethos of World Autism Day is all about recognizing what makes these individuals so unique, and understanding how we, as a society, can embrace and accommodate their needs.
This year, the focus of World Autism Awareness Day is the contribution of autistic people at home, at work, in the arts and in policy making.
Most people are aware that autism exists, so World Autism Day and the phrase ‘raising awareness’ is about helping people understand autism to a greater degree.
This year, the UN will be hosting a virtual event to run on April 2nd, from 10:00am to 1:00pm EST on the UN’s YouTube and Twitter channels, and on UN WebTV. It will feature autistic people worldwide discussing their experiences of autism at home, at work and in life, and what more can be done to further the paradigm shift towards not only the acceptance but celebration of the many ways in which autistic people contribute to society.
Here are a few ways you can get involved with World Autism Day every year:
Money generated through fundraising is a fantastic resource for many public institutions, as many autism charities circulate funds and grants into schools, libraries, and care facilities. This means that there is greater access to learning and social support for people in schools and career development skills for teenagers and adults with ASD.
In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged that World Autism Day would occur every year on April 2nd. At that time, the prevalence of autism in children was estimated at around 1 in 88, whereas figures from the CDC in 2020 suggest that it is now closer to 1 in 36, highlighting that the importance of autism awareness is only growing.
World Autism Awareness Day has celebrated a different focus area every year, going back to 2012:
• 2012: "Launch of Official UN ‘Awareness Raising’ Stamp"
• 2013: "Celebrating the ability within the disability of autism"
• 2014: "Opening Doors to Inclusive Education"
• 2015: "Employment: The Autism Advantage"
• 2016: "Autism and the 2030 Agenda: Inclusion and Neurodiversity"
• 2017: "Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination"
• 2018: "Empowering Women and Girls with Autism"
• 2019: "Assistive Technologies, Active Participation"
• 2020: "The Transition to Adulthood"
• 2021: "Inclusion in the Workplace"
• 2022: "Inclusive Quality Education for All"
In recent years, World Autism Awareness Day has also highlighted a shift in the narrative, moving away from the ‘cure and combat’ perspective that had previously pervaded mainstream media and popular opinion, and instead focusing on acceptance and advocacy.
Every autistic person has different lived experiences, and there is no one way to be autistic. However, there are some common challenges that many autistic people face in a neurotypical-dominated society. Learn more about some of these challenges and check out some further informative resources about autism below!
One of the earliest signs of autism is a difference in social skill abilities or lack thereof. For those living with ASD, the ability to make eye contact, communicate, speak, play, or engage in joint attention may differ from that of their neurotypical peers.
On World Autism Day, it’s important to raise awareness of the tools that can help autistic individuals improve their social skills. For some, using communication tools like phones, iPads, and communication boards can help. Social skills classes or one-on-one therapies can make a tremendous difference in the ability to socialize, as can focused groups like specialized summer programs, or summer camps.
Learn about Social Boundaries and Autism.
Learn about What Masking Is in Autism.
Autistic individuals may have difficulty with motor planning, coordination, and balance activities. This may also create separation in social abilities, and feelings of low self-esteem. However, adapted physical education, physical therapy, or specialized training/classes in sports such as rock climbing, swimming, biking, skiing, or hiking can provide the movement that is crucial to overall well-being. Soft play activities, like ball pools and balance beams, are especially great sensory solutions for autistic children who struggle with movement.
Learn about Sensory Motor Integration.
Understanding the emotional challenges that autistic individuals face is vital for improving world autism awareness and compassion. It also raises awareness of how to adapt to better support those with ASD. Learning to regulate emotion can take a team and family approach that includes looking for signs of emotional instability and learning to catch emotional outbursts before they occur. Using emotional regulation tools such as a multisensory room, a visual tracker that displays emotional feelings, or regular therapy and medication can help individuals regulate and become aware of their emotional needs.
Learn about Emotional Intelligence.
Many individuals on the autism spectrum engage in stimming or self-stimulatory behavior. Stimming describes repetitive movements that stimulate the brain. For people who engage in stimming, it can be a regulator for both under-stimulation and over-stimulation. For example, if someone feels under-stimulated, stimming can help them fully feel parts of their body when perhaps they couldn’t before. On the other hand, in situations where there might be too much going on, stimming can help an individual to relax and focus.
Learn about the Benefits of Sensory Stimulation.
Learn about the Different Types of Stimming.
Whether you’re educating yourself or looking for resources to raise awareness among your family and friends, check out the Experia USA blog today. Alternatively, celebrate World Autism Day with exciting new sensory products for your school, nursery or home! Contact us today for more information.
