Autistic Pride Day: Let’s pledge to help children with autism

Autistic Pride Day is a day set aside to celebrate the children who suffer from autism all over the world. The day is celebrated on the 18th of June every year and it stands for pride where views of people are shifted from seeing autism as a disease to a ‘difference’. This shows that the people who suffer from autism exhibit diversity in how they express their neurological behaviour. 

Autism is neurological disorder in which there is a problem with the development of neurological system of the body and it is characterised by impairment of communication and social integration. The condition starts in childhood and the characteristics may be visible within the first two years of the child’s development.

The Purpose of Autistic Pride Day

• The day helps to create awareness to people on the condition and how it is managed. The day asserts that autism is not a sickness but rather a state in which the individual affected will exhibit varied characteristics that may provide them with challenges or rewards unlike their peers who do not have autism.
• Autistic pride day helps in coming up with a freedom initiative where the public is educated on the challenges that are faced by autism community.
• Autistic pride day helps in organising rights movement for people who are living with autism. The movement is usually led by self advocates of autism who ensure that autistic people are given their rights and are recognised in the society. The movement encourages the community members to accept people living with autism in the society.
• The autistic pride day provides a good platform where the care giver is appreciated. The people who take care of autistic children may have reduced physical and emotional energy as they can be drained while responding to the needs of autistic children. The care givers are encouraged to take care of themselves and to get as much help as possible to be able to give the best while offering their services.

What activities can be performed on Autistic Pride Day?

• The activities that can be done on this day include providing information to families that have people who suffer from autism by teaching them on the causes, signs/ symptoms , management and treatment. The family members will also be taught on how to handle someone who has autism as they are different.
• Providing support for the organisations that pioneer autism services like the UK charity organisation for people loving with autism.
• The caregivers can come together and share the challenges that are faced while taking care of people with autism. This will help to reduce stress as they express themselves.

Message spread on Autistic Pride Day

The message shared on this day is that the people who suffer from autism are not sick but they are different. Autism should not be viewed as a disease/sickness but it is a state of being ‘different’.

Autistic pride day is a day set aside to appreciate the people who live with autism. There are varied activities that can be done on this day and this includes encouraging the care givers to form support groups where they can share their challenges in caring for autistic children. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness on the condition as most people do not know much about it.