Autism Awareness Day Be Autism Friendly
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Autism Awareness Day Be Autism Friendly PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http://code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at: Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:34:16 UTC Contents Articles World Autism Awareness Day 1 Autism friendly 2 Autism Sunday 10 Autistic Pride Day 12 Light It Up Blue 13 References Article Sources and Contributors 14 Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 15 Article Licenses License 16 World Autism Awareness Day 1 World Autism Awareness Day World Autism Awareness Day has been held every year since 9 September 1989. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution "62/139. World Autism Awareness Day," adopted on 18 December 2007, proposed by Representatives of the State Qatar, and supported by all member states.[1][2][][] The World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) Resolution had four main components: • the establishment of 2 April as WAAD • participation of UN organizations, member states, NGOs and all private & public organizations in WAAD • raise awareness of Autism on all levels in society • Secretary-General of UN should deliver this message to member states and all other UN organs.[] To that end, there is currently a web site "World Autism Awareness Day" that provides materials and suggestions on how to participate in WAAD as well as a list of current activities different countries and organizations are conducting to celebrate WAAD.[3] References Autism friendly 2 Autism friendly Autism friendly means being aware of social engagement and environmental factors affecting people on the autism spectrum, with modifications to communication methods and physical space to better suit individual's unique and special needs. The autism awareness ribbon. Overview Individuals on the autism spectrum take in information from their five senses as do neurotypical people. The difference is they are not able to process it as quickly and can become overwhelmed by the amount of information that they are receiving and withdraw as a coping mechanism.[1] They may experience difficulty in public settings due to inhibited communication, social interaction or flexibility of thought development. Knowing about these differences and how to react effectively helps to create a more inclusive society. It also better suits the needs of the growing number of individuals with autism, Asperger syndrome, or other disorders on the autism spectrum.[2] Being autism friendly means being understanding and flexible in "Opening a window to the autistic brain." A child interpersonal conversation, public programs and public settings. In the with autism (three years old) pointing to the fish end, working together makes our experiences together better for in an aquarium. everyone. For example, a person might think that if someone is being rude if they will not look them in the eyes - or doesn't understand cliches like "it's a piece of cake", when in fact there may be a reason for this. Depending upon the individual's level of functioning, a person who hears "it's a piece of cake" may take that literally and not understand that what is really meant is "it will be easy".[2] For someone on the autism spectrum, being in an autism friendly environment means they will be have a manageable degree of sensory stimuli, which will make them calmer, better able to process the sensory stimulation they receive, and better able to relate to others.[3] Autism friendly 3 Communication and social interaction Organizations interested in spreading awareness about autism and how to be autism friendly, such as the The Autism Directory, have created training programs for communities to illustrate how people with autism may communicate or interact differently than neurotypical people, or people without autism. There are also suggestions for how to modify one's reaction to improve communication.[2] Some training examples are:[2] • When one finds out that someone may not be able to look them in their eyes, one should realize that they are not trying to be rude, and it is uncomfortable for them to do so. • A person may have difficulty understanding clichés or expressions and interpret a phrase literally. By speaking directly and factually, like saying "It's easy" as compared to "It's a piece of cake", one is more likely to understand the line. • Body language, facial expressions, gestures, and turning away from someone may be cues that are missed by an autistic person. This is another opportunity to be direct and factual, realizing that your body language or social cues may not be picked up. • The person may have limited vocabulary or speech perception. Patience is helpful here. Allow time for the person to comprehend what was said. Ask how you can help. If they use sign language or a symbol set to communicate, adapt as you are able. Other pointers are: avoid making loud sounds; do not surprise them, let them know your plans; limit or avoid vigorous activities; and talk or engage in activities that they care about.[2][4][5] Environment Some people with autism may be hypersensitive to changes in sight, touch, smell, taste and sound; The sensory stimulus could be very distracting or they could result in pain or anxiety. There are other people who are hyposensitive and may not feel extreme changes in temperature or pain. Each of these has implications for making an autism friendly environment.[6] Social factors There are several factors in creating a supportive environment. One of them is adherence to a standard routine and structure. Since change of routine can be quite anxiety producing for many autistic people, a structured, predictable routine makes for calmer and happier transitions during the day. Another important factor is creating a low arousal space. Environments with the least amount of disruption will help autistic people remain calm. It's important to speak in quiet, non-disruptive tones and to utilize a physical space that has a low level of disruption. Having a positive, empathetic attitude and ensuring consistent habits in work, school and recreational activities also help to minimize anxiety and distress and help an autistic person succeed. This is the SPELL approach which stand for Structure - Positive - Empathy - Low arousal - Links.[4][7] Social stories can be used to communicate ways in which an autistic person can prepare themselves for social interaction.[8] Autism friendly 4 Physical space There are several ways that the physical space can be designed and organized to be autism friendly. It is important for rooms to be decorated with serenity in mind, like painting the walls with calming colors. Thick carpeting and double-paned glass help to minimize distracting noise. Materials within the rooms may be organized, grouped and labeled with words or symbols to make items easier to locate.[9] Newport Ty Nant uses modern SMART technology, autism-friendly design features and Topics an autism-specific model of care to allow tenants to have more control over their lives. Daily life Autism friendliness can have a significant impact on an individual's interpersonal life and work life, benefited by consistency across all areas of one's life.[4] Vacations Due to the break of routine with family vacations, many families may avoid taking vacations. Steps can be taken to help make for a successful family vacation. One is sharing information like pictures or internet web pages. There are organizations that will make accommodations, if requested, to better manage uncertainty, crowds, noise disruption. This includes theme parks who allow people with autism to skip long lines and airlines or airports that may allow for a dry-run prior to the trip. Another tip is to prepare prior to the trip so that there is a plan for managing boredom.[5] Entertainment Theatre In the United States, the Theatre Development Fund (TDF) created a program in 2011 to "make theatre accessible to children and adults on the autism spectrum". Called the Autism Theatre Initiative, it's part of their Accessibility Programs, and was done in conjunction with Autism Speaks, Disney and experts who reviewed the performance for areas of modification. Adjustments that have been name for the initiative include: quiet areas in theatre lobby, performance changes that reduced strobe light use and noise, and areas where people can go perform an activity if they leave the theatre. Social stories, which explain what the experience will be like (such as loud noises, needing a break and moving through a crowd), were made available prior to the performance. These performances [10] included Lion King and Mary Poppins.[11][12][13][14][15] Movie cinema Going to a movie theater can be an overwhelming experience for someone on the autism spectrum. Crowding as people queue up to buy tickets. Loud movie volume. Dark theater lighting. All of these are sensory overload triggers that have kept some autistic people from ever seeing a movie at the cinema. Some movie theaters are becoming more autism friendly: The lighting is adjusted so it's not so dark, the volume is reduced and queues are managed to prevent crowding. Odeon Cinemas in London has implemented such "sensory friendly" nights.[16] On September 16, 2012, as one example, the Odeon Cinemas will screen Brave, a Disney animated movie, at more than 80 United Kingdom and Ireland cinemas for people desiring a sensory friendly movie going experience.[17] In the United States there are also "sensory friendly" movie-going experiences to be had through collaboration with the Autism Society of America. Monthly, AMC Theatres (AMC) will provide nights when people on the autism Autism friendly 5 spectrum and their families may experience an autism friendly movie night. The program is also intended for people with other disabilities whose movie going experience will also be improved in such a setting.[18][19] Education Providing the best outcomes for a child on the autism spectrum may be difficult, complicated by each child's unique way of managing communication and interaction with others, associated disorders that make each child's situation unique, and emerging understandings of neurodiversity.