The Pink Tower and Auto-Education from Matt Hillis on Vimeo.

April 2nd is World Autism
Awareness Day and a time to reflect on the many challenges and
opportunities faced by individuals living with Autism.

World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) is an annual day of awareness
set aside by the United Nations to recognize the reality of Autism
Spectrum Disorder faced daily by millions of people all over the world.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder
affected by genetic and environmental factors, characterized by
problems in communication, social development and behaviour. Over
200,000 Canadians and more than 35 million people worldwide are
directly affected by Autism. New research by the U.S. Centre for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the rate of prevalence
of Autism in children as low as 1 in 110.

On Prince Edward Island today there are hundreds of families
living with Autism ranging in age from preschoolers to seniors. Some
have been diagnosed and are accessing supports while others still are
waiting for diagnosis or have not been diagnosed at all and are
accessing no supports.

“Autism is a life long condition found in people of all ages and
backgrounds from children to adults to seniors,” says Nathalie Walsh,
Executive Director of the Autism Society of Prince Edward Island. “One
of the many challenges presented by Autism is ensuring that the proper
supports are in place to help people living with Autism to reach their
full potential as individuals with dignity regardless of their age. As
awareness and education about Autism grows there are more opportunities
for families, governments and the community to partner on ways to
improve the tools available to achieve these goals,” said Walsh.