April is Autism Awareness month! Here are some brief facts about why this month and Autism awareness and advocacy in general are so important!
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Autism is a spectrum disorder
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1 in 68 children are impacted by Autism
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Boys are 5x more likely to have Autism than girls
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Researchers are still uncertain about the precise causes of Autism
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Medical expenses for individual and families impacted are exceptionally high ranging upwards of $50,000/ year
The month begins with World Autism Awareness day on Saturday April 2nd! This is a day where the world comes together to raise awareness for Autism through fundraisers, advocacy and events. There are many ways to get involved with World Autism Awareness day here are a few!
Light it Up Blue
This is a campaign by the organization, Autism Speaks, to promote awareness and acceptance of Autism. The idea behind the campaign “light it up blue” is to wear blue clothing on April 2nd and throughout April to show support for Autism awareness. This is one of the easiest ways to get involved with the movement so wear a blue shirt, hat, jacket, shoes or any accessory on April 2 to take part!
Educate yourself
One of the biggest goals of Autism awareness day and month is to teach people about Autism, itself. Taking the time to learn more about Autism and then sharing that information is critical to increasing awareness as a whole. There are many different ways to do this such as checking out websites like I did to find the facts at the beginning of the article such as http://www.autism-society.org and https://www.autismspeaks.org or reading books and watching videos. An important part of participating in Autism awareness day is making the effort to educate yourself on Autism and the impact it has on so many people around the globe.
Walks/Runs
There are numerous walks and runs for Autism across the world. These events are a great way to get involved and learn more about Autism while also raising money for it at the same time! Join a team, make your own or simply attend an event and learn more.
Share your participation
No matter how you choose to participate in Autism awareness month share it with your friends and family in person and on social media. Take the time to explain why and how you chose to get involved and inspire others to do the same! Everyone can make a difference and share their experience.
Autism awareness should be talked about all year long and is something everyone who is able to should participate in. So I invite you to join me in taking the pledge to #LIUB on April 2 and make Autism awareness, acceptance and advocacy a priority.