World Autism Awareness Day 2020 – Date, History, Significance, and Theme of the day

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally appreciated day every year on 2 April, prompting the Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) all through the world. World Autism Awareness Day causes individuals to comprehend and acknowledge individuals with autism, foster overall help and inspire individuals. It is a day that spread generosity and autism awareness.

UN Secretary-General’s message “On World Autism Day, we recognize and celebrate the rights of persons with autism. This year’s observance takes place during a public health crisis unlike any other in our lifetimes — a crisis that places persons with autism at disproportionate risk as a result of the coronavirus and its impact on society”.

Further, he expressed “Persons with autism have the right to self-determination, independence, and autonomy, as well as the right to education and employment on an equal basis with others. But the breakdown of vital support systems and networks as a result of COVID-19 exacerbates the obstacles that persons with autism face in exercising these rights. We must ensure that a prolonged disruption caused by the emergency does not result in rollbacks of the rights that persons with autism and their representative organizations have worked so hard to advance”.

It was assigned by the United Nations General Assembly resolution “62/139. World Autism Awareness Day”, passed in council on 1 November 2007, and adopted on 18 December 2007. It was proposed by the United Nations agent from Qatar, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and upheld by all member states.

This resolution was passed and received without a vote in the UN General Assembly, for the most part as a supplement to past UN activities to improve human rights.

World Autism Awareness Day is one of just seven official health-specific UN Days. The day itself unites singular autism associations all around the globe to help in things like research, diagnoses, treatment, and recognition for those influenced by this developmental disorder.

What is Autism?

Autism is otherwise called Autism spectrum disorder that is a long-lasting neurological disorder or a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders that shows during youth, regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic status. The term Autism spectrum implies a range of characteristics.

It is portrayed by social impairments, communication difficulties, and confined, a repetitive and stereotyped pattern of behavior. As such, we can say that Autism is a brain disorder that influences the ability of an individual to speak with others. It fundamentally starts in childhood and keeps going through adulthood.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), alludes to an expansive range of conditions portrayed by difficulties with social abilities, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. Autism is an advancement disorder. The disorder is described by challenges with social collaboration and communication which may likewise incorporate limited and repetitive behavior. The indications of Autism are regularly seen by the parents of the child during the initial three years. These signs grow continuously.

World Autism Awareness Day 2020: Date

As referenced previously, World Autism Awareness Day is marked on April 2 every year globally. This date was assigned by the UN in 2007, after the United Nations delegate from Qatar, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, proposed the recognition to the UN. It was unanimously settled upon by all members.

World Autism Awareness Day: Significance

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder of variable severity that is portrayed by trouble in social collaboration and communication and by confined or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior. World Autism Awareness Day especially features the consideration of those managing some type of Autism Spectrum Disorder and brings to the front line that they are a key part of society.

A globally perceived recognition that centers around driving awareness about individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) all through the world, World Autism Awareness Day holds massive importance to make life simpler for those battling this disorder and give comfort and solace to their family also. Autism Spectrum Disorder influences 1 of every 160 children around the world, as per the World Health Organization. It is, in this way, a topic that should be brought to the forefront to make the lives and transitions simpler for those living with ASD.

World Autism Awareness Day 2020: Theme

For the past few years, World Autism Awareness Day centers around a particular theme which is determined by the United Nations. This year the World Autism Awareness Day 2020 Theme is ‘The Transition to Adulthood’. United Nations believes that becoming a grown-up implies being educated and having a specific amount of knowledge in social, economical and political life in one’s community. Be that as it may, the change to adulthood is a significant challenge for individuals with autism in light of the absence of chances and the help for this stage in their life.

World Autism Awareness Day 2020 Theme ‘The Transition to Adulthood’ causes us to notice the adulthood of individuals with autism. The issues remember the significance of cooperation for cultural youth events, community, self-determination and decision making. Different issues revolve around education, and how individuals with autism ought to approach post-secondary education and employment, and have the option to live freely.

World Autism Awareness Day: History

The United Nations family consistently promoted the diversity, rights, and prosperity of people with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities went into force in 2008 and reaffirmed the crucial principle of universal human rights for all. The primary aim of the convention is to promote, secure and guarantee the full and equivalent delight in every single human right and fundamental opportunities by all people with disabilities.

It likewise guarantees that all children and grown-ups with autism can lead to full and significant lives. On 2 April, the United Nations General Assembly consistently pronounced as World Autism Awareness Day bypassing the resolution A/RES/62/139 to make individuals mindful about the need to help improve the quality of life of those individuals experiencing autism with the goal that they can likewise lead full and significant lives as a basic part of the society.

World Autism Awareness Day 2020: Celebrations

On World Autism Awareness Day a few international communities, a huge number of landmarks, buildings, homes, and communities around the world meet up to offer help and love to individuals with autism.

World Autism Awareness Day often includes educational events for teachers, health care laborers, and parents, as well as presentations exhibiting work made by kids with autism.

All month a few exercises and events happen like Autism-friendly events and educational activities to build comprehension and acknowledgment of individuals with autism.

To instruct and make individuals aware of autism is significant. As we realize that the rate of autism in all the areas of the world is high thus it is critical to cause individuals to comprehend that individuals with autism need care, love, and support else it can affect the people, their families, and communities.

Individuals generally use the color blue to raise awareness about the developmental disorder. Every year, there is a dedicated theme that individuals follow in the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day. This theme is said to establish the pace for the awareness campaigns and encourages families to have open discussions. A year ago’s the theme for World Autism Awareness Day was Assistive Technologies and Active support. The current year’s theme has been set as The Transition to Adulthood.

The UN has been motivating countries to take efforts to raise awareness about individuals with ASD. To mark World Autism Awareness Day, individuals arrange autism-friendly events and different activities to exhibit the acknowledgment of autistic individuals and raise awareness of this critical subject. We trust that this World Autism Awareness Day you open new discussions on what the disorder looks like, how to adapt to it and above all how to cause those living with ASD to feel acknowledged, loved and appreciated.