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APRIL 2, 2009 IS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY - WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR AUTISM?

The United Nations has declared 2nd April World Autism Awareness Day and we in Wales are joining forces with other Autism organisations in the UK and the USA to create one single day of mass awareness.

Autism Cymru is therefore asking schools, teachers, staff and pupils in Wales to help us raise awareness of World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April by "Showing their support for Autism". Together we can make our contribution from Wales really count on World Autism Awareness Day 2009!

We want to use this opportunity to give a clear message to governments throughout the world that autism must be recognised and understood as a condition distinct from learning disability and mental illness and to request that appropriate policies, services and rights are put in place.

One in a hundred people have autism yet the services and support available to them and their carers are far too often woefully inadequate. The impact on individuals and families can be devastating. Research suggests that the cost of autism in the UK is Ł27.5 billion a year - a cost which could be vastly reduced if the right support was in place.

Did you know...

*       There are over 20,000 children and adults with autism living in Wales today, and therefore a further 20,000 families experience autism as part of their daily lives
*       Over 1% of the gross population of Wales have contact with autism either as carers, individuals with autism or those who work with them as teachers, classroom assistants, etc
*       More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with diabetes, cancer & AIDS combined
*       Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
*       There is no medical detection or cure for autism, but early
diagnosis and intervention improve outcomes
*       Autism does not discriminate by geography, class, or ethnicity

What can your school do to support WAAD...

We are asking schools in Wales to Show their support for Autism - the concept is really simple. This can take place during the morning school assembly or during individual class registrations. Teachers can start by reading a few brief facts about autism (such as the 'Did you know...' above) or perhaps read the 1st chapter of the 'Blue Bottle Mystery - an Aspergers Adventure' or if you have access to a screen and DVD player, you could play
the short 10 minute film 'A is for Autism'. All pupils, teachers and staff can wear the WAAD badges to increase awareness of the day and at the end of the Fact/Book reading/DVD session - all involved can be asked to either 'Stand up for Autism' i.e Literally stand up for 60 seconds or Shout for Autism, Clap for Autism - just something to make an impact for the day!

The activity is not limited to the above - you can be as creative as you like, i.e Host Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Bonnet competition, Non Uniform day etc.

All we ask is that you email us your pictures - so we can add them to the WAAD picture gallery www.autismspeaks.org.uk/waad

What we can do to help you...

*       We have created the templates for the WAAD badges, all you need to do is match the template to the sticky labels you have in your stationery cupboard and print away - this is the cheapest and most effective way to do it. (if your label size is not covered by the templates, let us know and we will do our best to create a template for you).  Sticker templates are available in the library section of the awares.org website.   All you need to do is download the template that best suits you. They are available in 8, 10, 12 and 14 labels to a page (A4)
*       Provide you with Autism facts or advise you where to get A is for Autism/Blue Bottle Mystery.
*       We will mention schools involved on our website and show photos in the picture Gallery.