April 2 – Autism Campaign
April 2 is the World Autism Awareness Day which is marked all over the world. In such a day organizations from different countries engage themselves in campaigns aiming to raise awareness about Autism.
Autism is a permanent brain disorder which affects social skills, how a person communicates with others, and how a person behaves in social environment. Persons with Autism find it difficult to establish relationships with other people. In general, their social skills are very limited.
In Kosovo there is no statistical data regarding the number of persons with Autism.
Since 2007, in “Ismail Qemajli” school in Prishtina there is a class with children with Autism. Until now there is only one NGO in Kosovo that cares about persons with Autism.
But it’s time to do more!
This April 2 students from AUK Charity Club, together with Parents Association of Lindita Bicaj, have organized a campaign to raise awareness about Autism in Prishtina.
Part of the campaign was the distribution of flyers to citizens. What is Autism?; What are the symptoms of autism?; How can parents know whether their child is with Autism?; are the questions citizens were able to find out in these flyers. Students have also distributed pins with Autism logo in it to citizens in Prishtina. Part of campaign was also the survey done in Mother Teresa Boulevard.
This year, Autism Speaks has organized a campaign with the motto “Light it Up Blue,” where some building and giant companies all over the world are lit up in blue. On the night of April 1, prominent buildings across North America and the world including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada were lit up blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 2.
American University in Kosovo was also lit up in blue on the night of April 1st to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 2. AUK will be lit up in blue for one week.
Autism Speaks is the largest and well-known organization. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Autism Speaks has published pictures of the campaigns done in different countries in its official website which are viewed from people all over the world. Some of the pictures of AUK’s campaign and its blue lighting are published as well. This is of great step demonstrating that AUK cares about the community.
Enjoy the pictures at http://www.lightitupblue.org/.
