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Building Understanding and Acceptance on World Autism Awareness Day (posted April 2, 2025).png)
By Adam Behnke, BCPH Communications Specialist
World Autism Awareness Day is an international observance dedicated to increasing public understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promoting the meaningful inclusion of people who are on the spectrum. The day represents just one of four health-specific United Nation Days, underscoring the growing prevalence of autism diagnoses across the world. According to the Autism Society, the autism prevalence rate has been steadily increasing since 2000. What was once one in 150 children diagnosed with ASD is now one in 36. Today’s Healthy Herald article will briefly explore the history of autism as a known condition and how anyone can add a little more understanding and acceptance to our daily lives.
A Brief History of Autism
Eighty-two years ago, in 1943, the American child psychiatrist Leo Kanner first applied the term "infantile autism" to young children with delayed and deviant language and social development, repetitive behaviors, and lack of imagination. The following year, Austrian physician Hans Asperger described what would later be known as Asperger disorder, characterized by what he observed as intellectual ability coupled with difficulties in social communication and interaction, obsessive preoccupations, and coordination problems. This long history reflects how our understanding of autism has evolved significantly from a narrowly defined condition to recognition of a diverse spectrum affecting people in broad and unique ways. Today, the Autism Society summarizes ASD as “...a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation. The Autism experience is different for everyone. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is often referred to as a “spectrum condition” that affects people differently and to varying degrees.”
Diagnostic classifications have evolved as well throughout the decades. Modern systems like the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders now recognize the condition of autism under the umbrella term of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is no known single cause of autism, and experts argue it is triggered by both biological and psychological causes.
Screening
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDD) recommends all children be screened for autism by their family pediatrician three times before their third birthday. The Autism Society says intervention should begin when an ASD diagnosis is suspected and before a formal diagnosis is complete. The advantages of early intervention, it says, cannot be overemphasized. Children who receive early intervention therapies and education can make tremendous strides in their overall skill development, leading to an improved quality of life.
The CDC has provided information about the early signs of autism through its “Learn the Signs. Act Early” initiative. Several screening instruments have been developed to help determine if a child might need evaluation for developmental delay and/or autism, including the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT).
Public Perception
How autism is portrayed in media greatly impacts public perception and understanding. A study published last week in Turkey analyzed online media coverage of Autism Awareness Day, finding that commonly used terms like "disabled" and "treatment" were continuing to inadvertently reinforce negative perceptions about ASD. This highlights how important our language choices are in shaping attitudes toward autism and the responsibility we have to communicate from a respectful perspective.
Action for April (and beyond)
There are meaningful ways to participate in World Autism Awareness Day and the rest of the month of April, which is Autism Acceptance Month:
- Educate yourself by accessing reliable resources about autism, particularly content created by autistic individuals sharing their personal experiences.
- Amplify autistic voices by sharing content, articles, videos, and art created by people on the ASD spectrum.
- Attend community events ranging from informational sessions to sensory-friendly activities that celebrate ASD culture and achievement.
- Support autism-focused organizations, particularly those that include autistic leadership and advocate for meaningful inclusion.
- Make your spaces more inclusive by adapting environments to be more accessible for people with sensory sensitivities or who communicate differently.
The Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin helps organize numerous activities for people throughout the state, including conferences, outings, and online support groups for adults, teens and parents.
Move Forward with Understanding and Inclusion
World Autism Awareness Day represents a celebration of progress and a continued call to action. Now more than eight decades since autism was first formally described, our understanding of the condition has improved tremendously, but significant work remains to ensure full inclusion and support for people with ASD across their entire lives.
Autism awareness is just the first step. Progress today must include accommodation and appreciation of neurodiversity as a valuable aspect of the human condition. We must amplify autistic voices, continue to challenge stereotypes, and work toward creating communities where autistic individuals can thrive on their own terms.
We all want to be accepted exactly as we are. The autistic community should be embraced for exactly who they are.
Stay Healthy, Brown County!
Resources
(Autism Society)
(Indian Journal of Medical Research)
(International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies)
(Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin)