World Autism Awareness Day 2017 observed across the world

2 April: World Autism Awareness Day

The World Autism Awareness Day 2017 was observed across the world on 2 April 2017. The 2017 theme for the day is Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination.

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognised day, encouraging Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about children with autism throughout the world.

It was designated 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.

This resolution was passed and adopted without a vote in the UN General Assembly, mainly as a supplement to previous UN initiatives to improve human rights.

World Autism Day is also one of only four official health-specific UN Days.

What is Autism?

• Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life.

• It results from a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, mostly affecting children and adults in many countries irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status.

• Autism is characterized by impairments in social interaction, problems with verbal and non-verbal communication and restricted, repetitive behaviour, interests and activities.