The public is invited by Bermuda Autism Support & Education (BASE) to participate in an event that celebrates World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. The City Hall, Hamilton ceremony starts at 12.30 p.m. and it will also set off the Autism Awareness Month in Bermuda.
This year marks the 8th annual World Autism Awareness Day, and Bermuda has joined the autism communities around the globe. This celebration was established based on a 2007 United Nations decision.
The United Nations only set three condition-specific days and Autism Awareness Day is particularly designed to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), affecting tens of millions of people worldwide.
April is set apart for the global Light It Up Blue campaign, where all Bermuda companies and organizations are invited to participate. The campaign managed to get various famous buildings around the world to light up in blue at night, as a symbol of shining a light on the worrying health crisis around the globe; the Empire State Building and the Tour Eiffel, for example, are part of the campaign.
There are various World Autism Awareness Day activities that communities can take part of, designed to inform and offer better knowledge of what autism means, and why early diagnosis and intervention is crucial. At the same time, people with autism are celebrated and their unique talents applauded. Community events are especially created that individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and they can enjoy them as much as the next guy.
Only in the U.S., ASD has affected more than 3 million people, and according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the alarming figures show that around 1 in 68 American children is somewhere on the autism spectrum – a number which has escalated ten-fold in 40 years.
The same statistics show that autism is more likely to occur in boys than girls; it is estimated that 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 68 girls are usually diagnosed.
Anthony Peets, Chief of BASE, said that their charity is striving to provide advocacy and education to all the people (and their families) that are struggling with this condition. It is very disheartening knowing that every 11 minutes, a family finds out their child has tested positive on the Autism Spectrum.
Autism is a neurological and developmental condition that has no cure; it usually expresses in difficulty with social interaction, love of routines, speech and sensory needs and showing special interests.
BASE is focused on giving professional development seminars for parents and professionals alike, and most importantly, they want to offer parents the chance of being heard.
Image Source: Alpha Xi Delta


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