Saturday 2nd April 2022 marked 15 years since World Autism Awareness Day first began celebrated.
An Internationally recognised day that calls for United Nations member states to take measures in raising awareness about people with Autism spectrum disorder.
How it all started…
Apparently, it began in Qatar. The country that is going to host 2022 World Cup Competitions. The idea of having a day set apart for people with Autism was proposed by Mozah Bint Nasser Al- Missned ,the United Nations Representative from Qatar .
World Autism Awareness Day was passed in Council without voting on 1st November 2007 and adopted on 18 December 2007.It was resolved that the second day of April be established as World Autism Awareness Day, beginning 2008.
What is Autism?
Centres for Disease Control and prevention ( CDC ) defines Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as “ a developmental disability caused by difference in the brain.”
As a result, people with Autism “ may behave , communicate , interact and learn in different ways that are different from most other people.”
Signs and Symptoms
In young children the common signs are ;
1. Getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste; smell or sound
2. Repetitive movements such as flapping their hands , flinching their fingers or rocking their body
3. Not talking as much as others children.
4. Difficulty in making friends.
On the other hand, the common signs in adults include the following :
1. Occasional feelings of anxiety about social situations.
2. Perceived bluntness, rudeness and no interest in others without meaning to.
3. Strict adherence to a particular routine and getting irritated in case it is changed.
What has been done so far?
On December 19, 2006 , President George W. Bush of United States signed “ The Combating Autism Act of 2006” into law .It authorized nearly one billion dollars in expenditure over five years, beginning 2007 ,to combat the Autism spectrum Disorders of Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rhett syndrome among others.
Autism Societies of Kenya ( ASK ) , a parent driven organisation established in 2013 , shares information and experiences about Autism. This has led to increased awareness about the disorder in the East African country of Kenya.
In Uganda ,among the few organisations advocating for Autism is the “ Autism Care Uganda ( ACU ) . Their mission is to bring parents, professionals, and other affiliates together to improve the quality life of individuals living with neurological development disorders..”