Awareness Big and Small

I’ve often wondered what I can do. Organizations walk, give concerts, golf, and do any number of other activities during Autism Awareness Day. Unlike too many observances, the event seems sincerely devoid of commercial possibilities (as a friend said to me last April, “I searched and searched for a Happy Autism Awareness Day card for you, but couldn’t find one…”). So I’d like to do something real, though maybe on a smaller and more immediate scale than a walk to a rock concert, to start.

“What are you doing to promote Autism Awareness Day?” was the question posed on LinkedIn’s Autism Awareness Group earlier this week, and several responses offered food for thought:

One busy LinkedIner specifically shopped at a grocery store chain after spotting store associates wearing the puzzle pin.

Another woman handed out awareness fliers to pediatricians and pediatric dentists in her area, and placed an awareness poster in her husband’s dental practice, along with fliers informing people that she’d speak for free to any groups who want more information about autism.

“We posted information on our website for all school employees,” said a director of sped in one Virginia school district. One advocate overseas added the World Autism Day logo to their website (www.actiebijautisms.nl), and planned to host a seminar for local autism professionals and academics to discuss ABA in the Netherlands.

From a parent in Great Britain: “The day was great but I was quite fed up with how little mainstream TV coverage the day got in the U.K. I was using Twitter to try and get people to go through to the World Autism Awareness Day website and to the National Autistic Society website in the U.K.” Smashing!

One woman brought in bagels and cream cheese for her office. “It had promient placement in the kitchen, with an autism puzzle poster and notification of World Autism Awareness Day, and a few facts and figures about Autism. It created some good discussion.”

Had her co-workers any questions about autism?

” ‘Why is autism increasing?’” she answered. “Many had heard that vaccinations were a cause. I shared some facts and current thought, and also discussed current legislation on private insurance coverage of autism therapy in eight states.

Most I spoke with were incredulous about autism therapies not being covered by private health insurance.”

News stories on other programs for Awareness Day:

California Association Of Health Plans Recognizes World Autism Awareness Day By Highlighting Medical Services Plans

Provide http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144873.php

Elementary school makes Awareness pins: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=720846

Toy retailer sponsors walks and promotes toys that “speak to autism, and helps children develop certain skills”:

http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=8762