How To Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day 2025

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affects around 1 in 100 children around the globe. Contrary to popular misconception, ASD is not a disease. Rather, it is a lifelong developmental condition where the brain works differently than most people, influencing an individual’s communication, behavior, and social interactions. 

Despite its prevalence, general knowledge about this neurological condition remains limited, prompting the United Nations General Assembly to name April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007. Since then, the public has used the occasion to encourage awareness and understanding about autism while promoting diversity and inclusion for people who are on the spectrum.

This April, IMANA is celebrating World Autism Awareness Day by raising awareness, debunking popular myths, and sharing how we can support people with autism. Find out how to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day in meaningful ways.

What You Need To Know About Autism

People who are autistic display varying symptoms and levels of severity. They generally find the following situations more challenging:

• Communicating and interacting with others
• Understanding how other people think and feel
• Environments with bright lights and loud noises
• Unfamiliar situations like social gatherings

They may also take longer to process information, and may repeatedly perform the same actions or think the same thoughts. 

No Known Cause

The Autism Community in Action pointed out that ASD’s prevalence has grown 317% since 2000. While we’re seeing more cases, we still don’t fully understand its cause. Researchers believe that autism is associated with one’s genes, meaning it is hereditary. 

If you have a sibling with autism, were born to older parents, or have genetic conditions (such as Down syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Rett syndrome, etc.), you are more predisposed to being born with ASD. Other contributing factors include:

• Mothers who are obese, have diabetes, or have immune system disorders
• Being born premature or extremely underweight
• Challenges during birth where the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen for significant periods

**These factors do not cause autism, but they make developing it more likely.

Many people think that vaccines can result in ASD, but that is simply not the case. Even vaccines with thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, haven’t been linked to autism.

Though they may act differently, individuals with ASD can lead full lives. They can have friends, be in relationships, and get jobs. However, they may need more assistance.

Interacting With People on the Autism Spectrum

Before interacting with people who have ASD, it’s important to acknowledge that each person is different. They have their own strengths, challenges, needs, and interests. Building a positive relationship entails learning about their unique characteristics—just like any friend or acquaintance.

Because they see the world differently, they bring new ideas and views to the table, allowing them to enrich our community. 

These tips will empower you to reach out to individuals with ASD while cultivating a mutually satisfying relationship:

• Be respectful, compassionate, and encouraging.
• Don’t rush them. Give them time to think and answer.
• Prompt them gently to start talking. 
• People with ASD find it difficult to make eye contact, so don’t be offended if they avert their eyes.
• Find common ground as you ask about their favorite pastimes, games, and interests. 
• When they start speaking about themselves, don’t be surprised if they answer at length.
• It may be difficult to keep a conversation going. If this happens, you can suggest topics or explore a subject you think they’ll be interested in.
• You can also present them with choices. For instance, you can ask, “Do you want to play outside? Yes or no.”
• Be specific in your praise. Instead of saying, “Nice work,” try, “You did a great job making eye contact when saying hello!”
• Autistic people understand ideas literally, so avoid slang and figures of speech.
• Support their need for schedules and fixed routines. You can help them create schedules and checklists, help them maintain consistency in their schedule, or employ countdowns and timers for certain activities.

In addition, it’s a good idea to tailor your communication style and techniques to each person’s unique abilities and age.

Helpful Resources on ASD

Employing these tips is only the beginning. You can learn more about ASD through these books:

AUTISM – Behind The Locked Door: Understanding My Life as an Autistic by Paul Louden

Author Paul Louden shares revealing insights on how he sees the world compared to neurotypical individuals. His account includes personal and at times painful experiences, allowing us to better understand the neurodiverse community.

How To Speak Dolphin by Ginny Rorby

How To Speak Dolphin is a compassionate novel that explores autism from the point of view of family members. It tells the tale of a young girl named Lily, who is struggling to have her own life while caring for her half-brother with ASD. 

Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Dr. Barry M. Prizant

Touted as “groundbreaking,” this scholarly account by Dr. Barry M. Prizant suggests that rather than eliminating symptoms, caregivers should strive to understand the experiences of people with ASD and the reasons behind their behavior.

You can find a list of more helpful resources on Autism Speaks.

Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day 2025 in Meaningful Ways

As the UN commemorates this year’s celebration with the theme “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” we encourage our members and followers to:

• Share educational content and personal stories about autism on social media.
• Use hashtags like #AutismAcceptance, #LightItUpBlue, and #WorldAutismAwarenessDay.
• Donate to autism advocacy organizations like ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network), Autism Speaks, and local nonprofits.
• Follow and support autism awareness advocates on social platforms.
• Support enterprises owned by individuals with ASD.
• Attend or organize an event that encourages dialogue on relevant issues.
• Encourage communities to have autism-friendly environments.
• Wear blue, the color of Autism Speaks’ awareness campaign in 2010.
• Use respectful language to refer to the autistic community. For example, say “person with autism” instead of “autistic person.”

You can also donate to our ServeTurkiye Healthcare Project, which includes the Autistic Children Program, an initiative that offers autism intervention to Syrian refugee children. By spreading awareness on World Autism Awareness Day, we can promote equality while helping people with ASD lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.