Established by the UN in 2007, World Autism Awareness Day is marked each year by special illuminations of monuments around the globe. The goal is to raise awareness of a condition whose diagnosis remains difficult and whose effects complicate the inclusion of those living with autism.
On April 2, the world turns blue for World Autism Awareness Day, a commemoration established by the United Nations in 2007. To mark the occasion, some of the world's most iconic structures—the Empire State Building in New York and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro among them—are illuminated in the color the UN has chosen to represent autism. The day aims to spotlight this disability, advance research, improve services, and counter the discrimination and isolation that autistic people and their families still face. Across Italy, plazas and monuments light up in blue on April 2, and communities nationwide organize events for the occasion.
Girls and Women in Focus for 2018
This year's World Autism Awareness Day centers on girls and women with autism. A UN General Assembly resolution from November 2017 had already highlighted how women and girls with disabilities face "multiple" forms of discrimination that deny them basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. Girls with disabilities, the UN notes, "are less likely to complete primary school and more likely to be marginalized or denied access to education." The barriers extend to employment: "Women with disabilities have lower employment rates than men with disabilities and women without disabilities." And to sexual health: "Women with disabilities face various obstacles to accessing sexual health services, reproductive health information and services, and sexual education—especially education tailored for people with intellectual disabilities."
Events Across Italy
On April 2, Italian plazas and monuments light up or display blue symbols. Volunteers in public spaces share what daily life looks like for people on the autism spectrum and their families, working to build awareness of the condition. From April 2 to 15, the Italian Autism Foundation organizes #sfidAutismo18, a fundraising awareness campaign. Money raised supports scientific research and inclusion efforts. Donations can be made by text message to 45581 (€2) or by landline (€5). The foundation's website lists all events happening in Italy for the day.
What Is Autism?
Autism falls under what clinicians call "pervasive developmental disorders," a category of complex conditions that vary widely in severity. The autism spectrum also includes Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. These are conditions rooted in atypical brain development. People with autism struggle with social interaction, with verbal and nonverbal communication, and often display repetitive behaviors. Some also experience intellectual disability and motor coordination difficulties. The first signs typically appear in early childhood, around ages two or three, and persist throughout life. Early diagnosis is crucial, as is medical care—behavioral therapy and other interventions can help. There is no cure, but treatments are available that offer real benefit. Scientists have not yet pinpointed a single cause of autism spectrum disorders, though the Italian Ministry of Health reports that a genetic cause can be identified in 10–15 percent of cases.
Few Reliable Numbers on Prevalence
Reliable prevalence data are scarce, but experts agree that the numbers are rising. The World Health Organization estimates that autism spectrum disorders affect roughly one in 160 children globally. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports one in 68 American children—and the rate is climbing steeply. In 2000, it was one in 150. Recent CDC estimates suggest 3 million Americans have autism and roughly 60 million people worldwide. According to World Atlas, Japan and Britain have the highest reported rates.
Find more statistics at Statista
The Numbers for Italy
For Italy, according to the Italian National Institute of Health, estimates rely on data from the national health system. Full records exist only for Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. The most recent figures show that in Emilia-Romagna, autism spectrum disorder rates among children ages 6–10 ranged from 2.4 per thousand in 2010 to 2.5 per thousand in 2006 and 2009, rising to 2.8 per thousand in 2008 and 2011. In Piedmont, the rate for the same age group was 3.7 per thousand in 2008 and 4.2 per thousand in 2010. Nationwide, autism affects approximately 500,000 families, according to experts at Rome's Bambino Gesù Hospital, which recently announced the creation of an international network to develop and share diagnostic and treatment protocols. The goal is to narrow the vast global disparities in autism research and access to therapy.
Diagnosis Remains Out of Reach in Many Countries
Bambino Gesù emphasizes that knowledge of autism is still limited and diagnosis and treatment remain largely inaccessible in developing countries. The vast majority of autism research happens in just a handful of wealthy nations: 86.5 percent of identified autism cases in epidemiological studies come from North America, Europe, and Japan, the hospital notes. The World Health Organization has similarly flagged severe global disparities in access to diagnostic and treatment services. Italy passed its first major autism legislation only in 2015, with Law 134, which made important strides—including adding autism to the Essential Levels of Care, guaranteeing early diagnosis and personalized treatment nationwide. The Italian National Institute of Health published clinical guidelines in 2012, another milestone advocacy groups welcomed. Yet despite these advances, which have shortened diagnostic timelines, organizations like ANGSA (the National Association of Parents of Autistic Children) point to persistent gaps in treatment, reporting "severe learning and adaptation difficulties for our children." ANGSA is calling for stronger funding to ensure genuine inclusion and participation for people with autism.
Vaccines and Autism: The Conspiracy That Won't Die
Over the years, the supposed link between vaccines and autism has sparked fierce controversy—a link thoroughly debunked by international health organizations, scientific research, and Italy's Ministry of Health. The panic began with a 1998 study by a British physician that was later discredited and withdrew when investigators found methodological flaws and financial conflicts of interest. Despite repeated reassurances, 38 percent of Italians say they are unsure whether vaccines cause autism, and 14 percent believe the claim is true, according to an Ipsos survey.
Vaccines and Autism: How Italians Respond
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Source: SkyTg24