“Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking” is the 2023 theme for World Autism Day.
Major progress has been made in increasing awareness and acceptance of autism – the many autistic advocates who have worked tirelessly.
Additionally, medical professionals, researchers and academics in many countries are now incorporating the neurodiversity paradigm, coined by sociologist Judy Singer in the late 1990s, in their work.
The world is moving away from the narrative of curing or converting autistic people and instead focusing on accepting, supporting and including autistic people, and advocating for their rights.
This shift in thinking enables autistic people to claim their dignity and self-esteem, and to become fully integrated as valued members of their families and societies.
It also makes it possible to focus attention on the contributions that autistic people make to the world, as this year’s World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) observance will do, focusing in particular on their contributions in the home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking.
This year, WAAD will be observed with a virtual event on Sunday, 2 April, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST.
The event is organized in close collaboration with autistic people and will feature autistic people from around the world discussing how the transformation in the narrative around neurodiversity can continue to be furthered in order to overcome barriers and improve the lives of autistic people.
It will also address the contributions that autistic people make – and can make – to society, and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: United Nations
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