Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Activities That Helped Raise Autism Awareness
Today, there are many organizations geared towards raising autism awareness. Two of the organizations that do their part to raise the awareness level for autistic spectrum disorders are The Autism Society of America and Autism Speaks. These are the two most popular organizations focused on helping individuals who have autism. These organizations work to raise money for research by hosting benefits and walks, among other programs. The more that is known about these disorders, the higher the likelihood of more breakthroughs in treatments.
The Autism Society of America, or ASA, began in 1965 by founder Bernard Rimland, Phd. The ASA is actually the largest, not to mention the oldest grassroots organization, in the autism community. Today, the ASA is well on its way to having over 200 nationwide chapters and has well over 120,000 members and supporters, all dedicated to raising autism awareness. Autism Speaks is an advocacy organization, based in New York City, which also works to raise the awareness level of autism and to promote research. This organization was founded in February of 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, with the hope of finding a cure for the different autism spectrum disorders. The Wright's became seriously interested in the disorders after their grandson was diagnosed with autism.
The month of April has been designated as Autism Awareness Month. During April, U.S. television shows dedicate episodes to different aspects of autistic disorders. Also, many companies and organizations have teamed up to raise awareness for autism disorders and funds to help with research. In December 2007, a resolution that declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day was passed by the United Nations. Having awareness raised to these levels is extremely important if huge strides will ever be made in solving the autism puzzle.
Many have heard of autism, but unless you have been affected by the disorder or have a close friend or family member who has been diagnosed with one of the many autism spectrum disorders, then you many not fully understand it. Disorders of this nature normally do not "hit home" until it is witnessed first hand. Organizations such as AS, The ASA and The Walk for Autism Research program work to bring the effects of autism out in the open and show individuals the importance of further research. Only through more research and autism awareness will a cure ever be found.
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