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About World Autism Awarness Day
On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, which declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned of the State of Qatar, supported the campaign for a World Autism Awareness Day through the current 62nd UN General Assembly Session, garnering consensus support from all United Nations Member States as well as many international non-governmental organizations.
This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions. The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses deep concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges.
World Autism Awareness Day is intended to create increase international understanding on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities will help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and will impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD will celebrate the unique talents and skills of persons with autism through community events around the globe.
Facts about Autism
• Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. The cause of this spectrum of disorders is unknown - although many theories exist including the belief that it is caused by some interaction between genetic changes and environment factors.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
• Autism affects as many as 1 in 150 children and 1 in 94 boys.
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the world.
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with diabetes, cancer, & AIDS combined .
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism.
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism, but early diagnosis and intervention improve outcomes.
• Autism does not discriminate by geography, class, or ethnicity. There is an enormous range of people who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders and these people vary from those that have severe communication and interpersonal difficulties to those that attend college or gain successful employment.
Where to Obtain Additional Information about Autism
Autism Awareness Association Inc.
Street: 4031 E. Harry Street
Wichita, KS 67218
Mailing: P.O. Box 780898
Wichita, KS 67278
Phone: (316) 771-7335
Fax: (316) 771-7201
Email: tralanajones@autismawareassoc.org
Website: http://www.autismawareassoc.org/
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814-3067
USA
Phone: 301 657 0881 , (800)-3AUTISM x 150
Fax: 301 657 0869
Email: info@autism-society.org
Website: http://www.autism-society.org/
Autism Speaks
2 Park Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
USA
Phone: (212) 252-8584
Fax: (212) 252-8676
Email: http://www.autismspeaks.org/contact/index.php
Website: http://www.autismspeaks.org
American Habilitation Services encourages you to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day in your local community. As discussed in the AutismSpeaks website, there are many ways that we all can get involved in this very urgent issue:
• Read a book about autism, then donate books about autism that you've finished to your local library.
• Encourage your local Officials to make a World Autism Awareness Day Proclamation.
• Get your school involved with WAAD activities.
• Get local businesses involved with these ideas.
For more ideas on how to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day in your community please visit: http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org
Information obtained from the Autism Speaks and the World Autism Awareness Day websites.
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