In 2007, the United Nations declared April 2nd of
each year as World Autism Awareness Day. A few years
later, a global autism awareness initiative to honor the day was born — Light It Up Blue. Every April
2nd, people all over the world “shine a light” on autism by wearing blue,
making their social media profiles blue for the day or shining bright blue
lights outside their homes.
The 2018 World Autism
Awareness Day observance at United Nations Headquarters New York will focus on
the importance of empowering women
and girls with autism and involving them and their
representative organizations in policy and decision making to address these
challenges.
Girls with disabilities
are less likely to complete primary school and more likely to be marginalized
or denied access to education.
Women with disabilities have a lower rate of employment than
men with disabilities and women without disabilities. Globally, women are more
likely to experience physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence than men, and women and
girls with disabilities experience gender-based violence at disproportionately
higher rates and in unique forms owing to discrimination and stigma based on
both gender and disability. As a result of inaccessibility and stereotyping,
women and girls with disabilities are persistently confronted with barriers to sexual and reproductive health services and
to information on comprehensive sex education, particularly women and girls
with intellectual disabilities including autism.
Through dynamic
moderated discussions with experts and advocates, the observance will examine
the particular challenges that women and girls with autism face in this
context.
Other key
issues to be addressed include challenges and opportunities in fully exercising
rights in matters relating to marriage,
family and parenthood on an equal basis with others, as
underscored in Article 23 of the CRPD and in the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) adopted by world leaders at the United Nations in 2015 (SDG 5.6).
The world is dyed blue on autism day
The whole world
sympathizes with this symbolic measure. The Empire State Building, the Christ
the Redeemer of Brazil, the Niagara Falls, the Eiffel Tower, the Pisa Tower and
the Sydney Opera House are some of the emblematic moments that will light up
blue as soon as it gets dark.
In New York, the
Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, has claimed the recognition of
the rights as citizens of people with autism to make effective their equal
opportunities with the rest of society. "Let's help everyone change
attitudes towards people with autism and recognize their rights as
citizens," Guterres said in a statement.
The seventh annual international ‘Light It Up Blue’ (#LIUB)
campaign, part of the World Autism Awareness Day April 2, helps to raise awareness
to this growing developmental disability, which has been reported to affect 1
of every 110 children.
The ‘Light It Up Blue’ movement is best served by the
controllability and beauty of LED Lighting. Buildings, bridges, museums,
hotels, such as the Orlando Marriott World Center have shown
solidarity with those living with the disability by lighting exteriors in blue.
In all approximately 3000 buildings and landmarks in 600 countries are expected
to participate in World Autism
Awareness Day.
Among those joining the
‘Light It Up Blue’ is the Tasmanian Parliament House and
Autism is a complex
neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and
develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral
challenges. For more information on Autism visit http://www.autismspeaks.org
Additionally, World Autism
Awareness Day celebrates the
unique talents and skills of people with autism and features community events
around the world where individuals with autism and their families, are warmly
welcomed and embraced
