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Twenty UK charities mark World Autism Awareness Day

LONDON, UK: Twenty autism charities are uniting on World Autism Awareness Day April 2, 2009, to call on people across the UK to Stand Up for Autism. Celebrities - including Jane Asher, Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford, Michelle Collins, DJ Judge Jules and Brit award-winning band Elbow - are among those who have already pledged their support.

Stand up for Autism is a theme chosen to highlight how many people are personally affected by autism and how important it is that we stand up and speak out in order to gain the right level of help, support and understanding. All too often, autism is not properly understood as a distinct condition and the needs of people affected by autism are not recognised.

Awareness of autism, and the challenges it poses to the millions worldwide who are affected by the condition, is now reaching the highest level; US President Barack Obama pledged to increase funding for research and support services for people with autism, and it is the only condition specifically mentioned on his 24-point health agenda.

In the UK, charities and people affected by autism are urging the government to recognise autism spectrum disorders as distinct from other conditions, deserving urgent strategic planning, policy development and dedicated resource allocation. Research suggests that autism is costing the UK Ł27.5 billion pounds a year - a cost which could be vastly reduced if the right support was put in place. A significant proportion of this is the result of lost earnings by adults with autism, so it is not just an issue of cost but of missed opportunity.

For more information about the events taking place for World Autism Awareness Day 2009, and more details about what we are asking from Government, visit http://www.waad.org.uk or look out for activity on You Tube, Facebook and Twitter.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger's syndrome are often of average or above-average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

In December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). By bringing together autism organisations all around the world, World Autism Awareness Day aims to give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help.