World Autism Awareness Day

[MDV]

Well, it seems like the second of April is World Autism Awareness Day. And since we're discussing a novel about people with mental disabilties here. It might be kind of relevant. So I looked up what the day is all about, and it seems to be fundraising for people with autism. On top of that, the symbol of the day is a globe surrounded by people holding hands and a bright sun.

So, is there any point in a World Autism Day? Are people with autism and related disorders comfortable with being portrayed like 'kids in Africa in need of your aid'? Does Autism really lack awareness around the word? Discuss .

[Wyges]

Well, since it's only the second day I have been diagnosed with High Functioning Autism by a "licensed psychiatrist" who visited #MissingStars and kindly spent some of his precious time and diagnosed me, I really can't say anything.


Okay, jokes aside, I think that people are generally unaware or tend to close their eyes in front of Autists and other people with some other kind of mental illness, so there is a real need to increase awareness of these topics.Collecting money? Well, there are people who can't pay for their medicine and there is a need of special funding, but maybe not on a global level. And that poster really looks like something drawn by an African 3 years old kid.


No offense intended if I offened someone somehow.

[Waytfm]

First of all, this is the off topic forum. This is no place for relevancy.

As for World Autism Day, meh. I don't feel like it's needed. It feels like its purpose is to make other people feel like their doing good, when they're really not. It's like the people who spout on about breast cancer awareness, but aren't actually doing anything helpful.

The one good thing I could see this doing would be to challenge misconceptions about autism, which it really hasn't been doing. At least, it hasn't been on any sort of large scale.

Overall, I feel like it could do more, but right now it's fairly useless. But that's just me.

[SemiPolish]

Eh...but is ignoring the issue and simply leaving it to those affected by it (family/friends) really any better? Being conscious of a sometimes-serious mental disability in our society and putting it off to the side is rather hypocritical. What I mean by that is that we have the resources and skilled workforce to provide treatment (in the USA, at the very least), but autism would go largely unnoticed due to the fact that autism is strictly behavioral and thus not as sympathy inducing as, say, Down's syndrome. Some attention has to be drawn to the issues that arise from autism. Also, I don't view autism awareness as a pity case, but rather empathy for fellow humans because autism is rather common and difficult to cope with for some.

[Malkav]

Interesting responses.

I like the idea of an organization picking a specific day to bring awareness to a particular topic and educating others about it. So long as it's factual and not drenched in propaganda, like some certain events and organizations I've experienced, I can only imagine it making a positive impact on what would otherwise be uneducated and unaware individuals. Autism Awareness Day doesn't seem to be misleading or biased, so I'm okay with it. Just don't expect this poor college student to cough up much in the way of donations, hahaha!

[MeatBagReborn]

My girlfriend is an HF autistic so I suppose I should comment here. Most of the HF's/Apserger's ridden people I meet seem to be pretty cool folks, if somewhat annoying at times. She's (my GF is) probably the best girl I've ever been in a relationship with.

[TheLastMelody]

I think I was diagnosed with autism sometime in the past...

That's enough for the off-topic part.
I think the World Autism Awareness Day is kinda useless. And it does not happen on a global scale, I didn't hear a single word about it on the news or on the radio here where I live.
So I can't really say it does anything at all.

[notop]

And that poster really looks like something drawn by an African 3 years old kid.

Well, I guess three year old African children are more artistic than I am. Dx

And an interesting story... My father made me take a test which have results that correlate with Autism and Aspergers. It wasn't intended to diagnose any form of it, it just so happened that those with Autism scored high test results and those without had medium to low scores. I scored an 14, (which according to the test is lower than, and I quote, "An average woman"). My dad scored a 48, which was two off the maximum.

And I concur with Melody, I hadn't heard about it until I read this thread.

[Wyges]

And that poster really looks like something drawn by an African 3 years old kid.

Well, I guess three year old African children are more artistic than I am. Dx

Same here, same here... Unless I spend weeks and several pencils.

[TheLastMelody]

And that poster really looks like something drawn by an African 3 years old kid.

Well, I guess three year old African children are more artistic than I am. Dx

Same here, same here... Unless I spend weeks and several pencils.

I am chanceless, I guess there is at least 3 of us then?

[Zezin]

I always want to hurt people who come up with BS awareness days.
Why do people like me need our own day about our disorder? It's almost demeaning.

[Super Läzuli]

Dude there're days for friggin' everything.

There's a National Chicken Day. Why is there a day for it? Because enough people agreed that there's a day for it.

*shrug*

[kosherbacon]

Yesterday was Chocolate Milkshake day.

Really.

Yes, I celebrated accordingly.

[Waytfm]

Yesterday was Chocolate Milkshake day.

Really.

Yes, I celebrated accordingly.

Was it really? I had a chocolate milkshake for the first time in at least a year yesterday, for no particular reason.

[kosherbacon]

Yeah, it's strange. I went to my favorite milkshake place because reasons, and my girlfriend tells me that it's milkshake day. It's like yesterday was the day burger stands and ice cream parlors cranked up their mind control devices.

[Waytfm]

I think we've stumbled upon a delicious conspiracy

[TheCynic]

This is the 'off-topic' forum.

Adequately named.

[jarek56]

This is the 'off-topic' forum.

Adequately named.

Thank god for it.

I had chocolate Ice Cream at Coldstone yesterday, does that count?



As for Autism Awareness...as usual, I arrive at such a time when everyone has already said what I would've said. Honestly, I had no idea that it even existed, and I'm in Clinical Psychology for pete's sake!

Given that, as a child who suffered from a behavioral/learning disability (ADHD), one which I KNOW is rather common (or at least it's derivatives are, given that ADHD is a form of ADD, which is a bit more common), I have never heard of an "ADHD Awareness Day", which I would support immediately thanks to the fact that I suffered from it and social/education issues stemming from the diagnosis. I would like for people to have a greater perception of such issues, but at the same time, I have to agree with Zezin to some extent. Improperly handled, such a campaign could wind up hurting or in some way impede efforts made to support people suffering from Autism, as the case given. Greater Awareness of it would help with earlier diagnosis, which I KNOW is vital to treating it more effectively, but at the same time, the cynic in me warns that people somehow SOME WAY strive to abuse this effort.

[TheCynic]

the cynic in me warns that people somehow SOME WAY strive to abuse this effort.

I see what you did there.

[jarek56]

the cynic in me warns that people somehow SOME WAY strive to abuse this effort.

I see what you did there.

Actually it was completely unintentional, if you'll believe it.