WTS Boston's DEI in Motion: World Autism Awareness Day
Wednesday, April 2, 2025, is World Autism Awareness Day, beginning World Autism Month celebrated in April. 2025 marks the 18th annual celebration of the United Nations international recognition days. The goal of Autism Awareness is to affirm and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for autistic individuals on an equal basis with others. The many amazing autistic advocates who have shared their lived experiences have been fundamental in the advancements that have been made in the last 18 years of celebrating this day of awareness [1].
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children and 1 in 45 adults in the United States today. Autism manifests differently in each diagnosed individual, with each person showing a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Many individuals with autism have intersectional identities and often represent multiple marginalized groups.
It is important to note that historically, diagnoses and understanding of ASD have not been equitable across identities. For many decades, experts believed that autism was more prevalent in males than females. Most autism research relied on male participants, so what is known about autism is largely based on autism in males. As a result, males are referred for autism diagnosis 10 times more than females. Physicians and researchers still lack a strong understanding of autism in females [2].
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is officially recognizing Monday, March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day established with an executive proclamation from Governor Maura Healey. The effort and advocacy for this formal designation was spearheaded nationally by the Profound Autism Alliance with the lead taken in Massachusetts by the National Autism Center at May Institute, headquartered in Randolph, MA [3].
In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, here are some steps you can take:
- Educate yourself - Learn about the disorder by reading books, watching documentaries, or exploring online resources. For example, Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization that has created a workforce development program called, Workplace Inclusion NowTM (WIN) to promote the inclusion of autistic adults in the workplace [4].
- Listen - Listen to the voices of advocates who are bravely sharing their lived experiences.
- Support organizations - Donate funds, volunteer your time, attend local events such as walks and fundraisers.
Sources:
[1] https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day
[3] https://www.mayinstitute.org/news/press-releases/commonwealth-recognizes-profound-autism-day/
[4] https://www.autismspeaks.org