UPDATE: Here are the details about two events set in St. Landry Parish to mark Autism Awareness Month:
April is National Autism Awareness Month, and families in Opelousas kicked off the month with an event Tuesday afternoon.
They're asking residents to change their porch light to a red or blue light, to show support. It's about World Autism Awareness Day, but Melissa Hall, an Opelousas mom, says that name needs a shift.
"Tomorrow is World Autism Awareness Day, around the globe," she said. "I don't care if you light it up red or light it up blue, I need y'all to light it up to show support for Autism Acceptance Month. We say Autism Awareness, but by now we should all be well aware. So now, we're screaming "acceptance."
Here are a couple of pictures from Tuesday's event:
According to the National Day Calendar website, National Autism Awareness Month raises awareness for autism and Asperger's syndrome during April. Autism is a complex brain disorder that often inhibits a person's ability to communicate, respond to surroundings, and form relationships with others.
According to World Health Organization, about one in 270 people in the world has Autism Spectrum Disorder. ASD is a group of developmental disabilities that causes challenges in many areas of one’s life. Some of the profoundly affected areas include social, communication, and behavior. Children with ASD are usually nonverbal or they have restricted or repetitive behaviors. ASD also affects people of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The month-long observance takes place during World Autism Awareness Day, celebrated each year on April 2. The worldwide day was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities increase world knowledge of autism and impart information about the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism around the world.
