From surviving to thriving:
Autistic people share local perspectives
Virtual Event: Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EDT
register
Since the United Nations General Assembly designated 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in 2007, the United Nations has celebrated the day as a way to advocate for and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for autistic people on an equal basis with others. Progress has been made thanks to the many incredible autism advocates who have worked tirelessly to share the lived experiences of autistic people with the wider world.
The importance of raising public awareness of autism was highlighted in a 2007 General Assembly resolution (A/RES/62/139): Today, 17 years later, we have progressed beyond raising awareness to promoting acceptance and appreciation of autistic people and their contributions to society.
Commemorating World Autism Awareness Day 2024
The 2024 commemorations will aim to provide, for the first time, a truly global overview of the situation in this regard, from the perspective of autistic people themselves. As with last year, the event will feature autistic panelists from all walks of life, representing six regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Oceania. Speakers will share their thoughts on the situation in their respective regions and the importance of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enable autistic people to thrive.
The event is organized by the United Nations Department of Global Communications in close collaboration with the Institute for Neurodiversity (ION), an inclusive global membership organization founded, led and volunteer-run by neurominorities, headquartered in Switzerland. Currently present in 23 countries worldwide, ION is the largest, most globally representative and diverse neurodiversity initiative in the world. Its purpose is to empower, promote inclusion, appreciation and education on behalf of neurominorities, and to defend equal opportunities and human rights. The event is co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Italy and Poland to the United Nations and supported by the group Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity (GAIN).
Event Speaker Biographies