| World Autism Awareness Day | |
|---|---|
 A World Autism Awareness Day event in Santiago, Chile in 2013 | |
| Official name | World Autism Awareness Day |
| Observed by | United Nations member states |
| Date | 2 April |
| Next time | 2 April 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
| First time | 2008 |
World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day annually on 2 April, encouraging Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about autistic individuals throughout the world.[1][2] It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/62/139),[3] passed in council on 1 November 2007, and adopted on 18 December 2007. It was proposed by Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, the United Nations Representative from Qatar, and supported by all member states.[4][5][6][7]
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.[6]
World Autism Day is one of only seven official health-specific UN Days.[8]
The terms "Autism Awareness Day" and "Autism Awareness Month" are sometimes contested by autism rights advocates, who claim that they feed into ableism against autistic people. Such groups, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, advocate using the term Autism Acceptance Day as a counter-celebration for both events under the belief that it promotes overcoming anti-autism prejudice rather than simply increasing awareness of autism.[9][10] Besides this international autism day, the Autistic Pride Day is held yearly on 18 June, a pride celebration which recognises the importance of pride for autistic people and its role in bringing about positive changes in the broader society.
- ^ "WHEN IS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY". Business Standard India. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder – ASD): The Definitive Guide – What is Autism Awareness?". Otsimo. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ Nations, United. "World Autism Awareness Day – background". United Nations. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Third Committee Calls on Assembly to Designate 2 April World Autism Day | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ "General Assembly Adopts Landmark Text Calling for Moratorium on Death Penalty | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ a b "United Nations Marks First World Autism Awareness Day Today | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ "World Autism Awareness Day 2017". jobsmedia.org. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "UN – Global Issues – Health". www.un.org. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ S., Kassiane (4 April 2012). "Acceptance vs. Awareness". Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ Bullus, Erin; Sesterka, Abby (1 April 2020). "Moving Beyond Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance". Psychology Today. Thomas, John. Retrieved 2 April 2021.