World Autism Day, April 2nd

 


Many folks are interested in or know that there are people with autism today. But did you know that autism has its own logo and that we on the spectrum also have our own awareness day? They say, "If you've met one person with autism, you've only met one person with autism," because we on the spectrum are as diverse as any other neurotypicals. Perhaps that's why autism logos come in so many different colors and symbolize a puzzle with many different pieces, yet all fitting together.

World Autism Day is an internationally recognized day celebrated every year on April 2nd. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly and adopted on November 1st, 2007. The goal of the observance is to encourage member states of the United Nations to take action to increase awareness about individuals with autism worldwide.

"Light it Up Blue" is a slogan you may hear during the month of April. This campaign encourages people to light up their homes with blue lights to promote awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Blue is often associated with autism because it's a calming color that symbolizes tranquility and understanding, and can help individuals with autism feel more relaxed and comfortable.

What's common among all autism logos, however, is usually the phrase "Autism Awareness" in English. Additionally, "Autism Acceptance Day" is often utilized.

At times, the terms "Autism Awareness Day" and "Autism Awareness Month" face opposition from advocates for the rights of autistic individuals. These groups argue that these terms contribute to ableism against people on the spectrum. Ableism refers to discrimination and prejudice against people with physical or mental disabilities. Organizations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network advocate for replacing the campaign's slogan with "Autism Acceptance Day" as they believe this promotes acceptance of autistic individuals' differences in society rather than just raising awareness of the ASD condition.

In addition to this international autism day, we also celebrate Autistic Pride Day every year on June 18th. This is a pride celebration for autistic individuals and our neurodiversity and role in promoting positive changes in society.

Kommentarer

Legg inn en kommentar

Populære innlegg fra denne bloggen

From Solitude to Self-Discovery: A Path Unveiled

Bilde
  In my childhood, I often found myself isolating, preferring to read Donald Duck alone rather than play with other kids. Not because I didn't want to join in, but because the social aspect of play was hard to grasp, and I often felt clumsy. It seemed safer to keep to myself. Even on family outings and events, I'd bury myself in magazines and books while other kids tried unsuccessfully to get me involved in activities. Despite the isolation, I was incredibly chatty. The world seemed puzzling, so I'd kick off every conversation with "why this and why that?" My questions could range from the most peculiar topics, and I'd collect facts that other kids my age might not care about. For instance, I was obsessed with snowfall records in Tromsø in 1997 and the extremely mild winter in Southern Norway in 1998. There probably weren't many in my class worrying about melting glaciers when they were 10 years old. I wondered if I was different from the other kids, but I...
Les mer

Autism an' Weight Troubles: An Overlooked Hurdle

Bilde
Autism an' Weight Troubles: An Overlooked Hurdle In a world where folks reckon everything’s gotta be picture-perfect, an’ everybody’s expected to be up an’ at ‘em, trainin’ like a wild stallion, lots o’ folks with autism wrestle with weight problems. But is it ‘cause they’re lazy? Heck no. I got me a sister, an’ she’s over 40, yet she’s competed in world-class sports. Now, I might even be more spry than her some days, but never had a chance to be no top athlete. An’ it ain’t ‘cause I’m held back by no physical trouble or lack o’ effort. I’ve always liked stayin’ active, especially as a young’un when I took a shine to snow, winters, an’ skiin’ out yonder. My folks, they were always movin’ an’ shakin’, takin’ me out on hikes through thick woods an’ hills, all sorts o’ rugged land. We sure saw some sights together. Back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I went ahead an’ signed myself up for ski trainin’, but boy, did I get a rude awakenin’. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t ...
Les mer