April 2 is World Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day, internationally recognized as a day to raise awareness about autism.
In 2007, the United Nations (UN) designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. Autism rights advocates, such as the Autism Society of America and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), promote the use of the word “acceptance” vs. “awareness”. As stated on the ASAN website, “The goal of Autism Acceptance Day as envisioned by its creator, Ms. Durbin-Westby, is to create a more balanced discourse in which Autistic people are viewed not just as the sum of their difficulties, but as whole human beings.”
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 31 children and 1 in 45 adults in the United States today.
Information for this article: Autism Speaks.
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