World Autism Awareness Day 2022 underlines an inclusive post-pandemic world
It's been 10 years since the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.
With the aim of helping people with autism lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society, the United Nations (UN) yearly create themes and leads the celebrations by raising awareness on autism, highlighting the achievements of autistic people, and discussing multiple issues and barriers they face every day.
Here are the different themes that have been celebrated through the years; 2012 - "Awareness Raising," 2013 - "Celebrating the Ability Within the Disability of Autism," 2014 - "Opening Doors to Inclusive Education," 2015 - "Employment: The Autism Advantage," 2016 - "Autism and the 2030 Agenda: Inclusion and Neurodiversity," 2017 - "Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination," 2018 - "Empowering Autistic Women and Girls," 2019 - "Assistive Technologies and Active Participation," and 2020 - "The Transition to Adulthood."
For the years 2021 and 2022, the United Nations incorporated the pandemic in the theme and decided on “Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World.”
In the event held by the United Nations last year, panelists emphasized, “How crucial it is to foster inclusive quality education for people on the autism spectrum so that they can fulfill their potential and achieve sustainable success in the labour market.”
But given the pandemic and the situation we are in now, many people on the autism spectrum are now struggling more than ever.
According to the United Nations, “As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools, impacting more than 90 percent of students worldwide. The disruption in learning caused by the pandemic has reversed years of progress and has exacerbated inequalities in education.”
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They further explained, “Many students with autism have been especially hard hit and studies show that they have been disproportionately affected by disruptions to routines, as well as services and supports that they rely on.”
That's why the United Nations, through the Sustainable Development Goals, chose to continue and center this year's discussion on inclusive quality education for all which they believe is the key to the transformative promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, to “LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.”
Sustainable Development Goal 4 which according to the United Nations, “Focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, as the foundation for improving people's lives and reducing inequalities.” is now their frame of reference in addressing major challenges such as inequality.
The aim of this framework is to ensure, “equal access to all levels of education and vocational training” for persons with disabilities and building and upgrading education facilities that are disability sensitive and that provide “inclusive and effective learning environments for all."
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According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people with autism spectrum disorder have, “Persistent impairment in reciprocal social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.”
The book further explains, “Manifestations of the disorder also vary greatly depending on the severity of the autistic condition, developmental level, and chronological age; hence, the term spectrum.”
Source: OCD-UK
In the book, they also explained that people with autism spectrum disorder especially young children have deficits in social-emotional reciprocity or the ability to engage with others and share thoughts and feelings. According to them, young children with the disorder, “may show little or no initiation of social interaction and no sharing of emotions, along with reduced or absent imitation of others' behavior.”
This is why, as long as we are capable, we should help raise awareness and educate people about autism spectrum disorder. Often, those people with the disorder are neglected and misunderstood. But, we're all just the same human beings residing on Earth. We should strive to make the world a safe space for them to live in.
Check out the celebrities who have publicly shown unconditional love for family members with special needs:
