World Autism Awareness Day Explained

Holiday Name:World Autism Awareness Day
Official Name:World Autism Awareness Day
Observedby:United Nations member states
Date:2 April
Scheduling:same day each year
Duration:1 day
Frequency:annual
Firsttime:2008

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day annually on 2 April, encouraging Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about autistic individuals throughout the world.[1] [2] It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/62/139),[3] passed in council on 1 November 2007, and adopted on 18 December 2007. It was proposed by Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, the United Nations Representative from Qatar, and supported by all member states.[4] [5] [6] [7]

This resolution was passed and adopted without a vote in the UN General Assembly, mainly as a supplement to previous UN initiatives to improve human rights.

World Autism Day is one of only seven official health-specific UN Days.[8]

The terms "Autism Awareness Day" and "Autism Awareness Month" are sometimes contested by autism rights advocates, who claim that they feed into ableism against autistic people. Such groups, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, advocate using the term Autism Acceptance Day as a counter-celebration for both events under the belief that it promotes overcoming anti-autism prejudice rather than simply increasing awareness of autism.[9] [10] Besides this international autism day, the Autistic Pride Day is held yearly on 18 June, a pride celebration which recognises the importance of pride for autistic people and its role in bringing about positive changes in the broader society.

Components

The original resolution had four main components:

Themes

As of 2012, each World Autism Awareness Day has focused on a specific theme determined by the UN.

Onesie Wednesday

In 2014, WAAD coincided with Onesie Wednesday, a day created by the National Autistic Society to encourage people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to show their support for anyone on the autistic spectrum. By wearing a onesie or pajamas, participants are saying, "it's all right to be different".[25]

Outcomes in the United States

In a 2015 Presidential Proclamation, President Obama highlighted some of the initiatives that the US government was taking to bring rights to those with autism and to bring awareness to the disorder. He highlighted things like The Affordable Care Act, which prohibits health insurance companies from denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition such as autism. He also pointed out the Autism CARES Act of 2014, which provides higher level training for those who are serving citizens on the autism spectrum.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: WHEN IS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY . 17 February 2021 . Business Standard India.
  2. Web site: Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder – ASD): The Definitive Guide – What is Autism Awareness? . Otsimo . 17 February 2021 . en . 29 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Nations . United . World Autism Awareness Day – background . United Nations . 17 February 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: Third Committee Calls on Assembly to Designate 2 April World Autism Day Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. www.un.org. 6 November 2015.
  5. Web site: General Assembly Adopts Landmark Text Calling for Moratorium on Death Penalty Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. www.un.org. 6 November 2015.
  6. Web site: United Nations Marks First World Autism Awareness Day Today Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. www.un.org. 6 November 2015.
  7. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day 2017 . jobsmedia.org . 19 October 2017.
  8. Web site: UN – Global Issues – Health. www.un.org. 25 March 2017.
  9. Web site: S. . Kassiane . Acceptance vs. Awareness . Autistic Self Advocacy Network . 2 April 2021 . ASAN . 4 April 2012.
  10. Web site: Bullus . Erin . Sesterka, Abby . Moving Beyond Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance . Psychology Today . Thomas, John . 2 April 2021 . Psychology Today . 1 April 2020.
  11. Web site: Facts & Myths about Autism – Autism Awareness Day 2017 – Belair Daily. www.belairdaily.com. en-US. 22 March 2017.
  12. Web site: A/RES/62/139 . 1 January 2023. undocs.org.
  13. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April. www.un.org. en. 2 April 2018.
  14. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April. www.un.org. en. 2 April 2018.
  15. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April. www.un.org. en. 2 April 2018.
  16. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April. www.un.org. en. 2 April 2018.
  17. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April United Nations Enable. www.un.org. en-US. 2 April 2018.
  18. Web site: Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination – World Autism Awareness Day 2017. United Nations Web TV. en. 2 April 2018.
  19. Web site: 2018 World Autism Awareness Day. www.un.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20180331054119/https://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/. 31 March 2018. 31 March 2019.
  20. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day 2018. www.un.org. en. 2 April 2018.
  21. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day – EN. Nations. United. United Nations. en. 2020-03-30.
  22. Web site: World Autism Awareness Day - EN.
  23. Web site: Nations . United . World Autism Awareness Day - EN . 2023-04-02 . United Nations . en.
  24. Web site: Nations . United . World Autism Awareness Day - EN . 2024-04-02 . United Nations . en.
  25. Web site: About Onesie Wednesday. National Autistic Society. 2 April 2014.
  26. Web site: Presidential Proclamation – World Autism Awareness Day, 2015. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. April 2015. 10 November 2015.

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