Saturday April 2nd is the day, World Autism Awareness Day! It’s a day to Light It Up Blue to show your support and to spread the word about autism. It’s a day dedicated to placing autism at the forefront of everyone’s mind and bringing awareness to the millions of individuals across the globe touched by autism daily. But it shouldn’t stop there. A single day of events and international recognition is just a start. True awareness comes with time. Promoting acceptance, offering support and most importantly educating the masses about autism is the best way to build awareness.
Over the past few decades, autism has touched the lives of more and more individuals as parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors, friends, or as fellow patrons in the same store. No matter what your specific experience has been, having a basic understanding of autism is extremely beneficial. The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) has put together a great series of video modules that can be used to gain a basic understanding of autism or to learn more and achieve a certificate in autism. The Many Faces of Autism video 
from OCALI’s ASD Strategies in Action series is a great way to start sharing information about the characteristics of autism and simple strategies to clarify misunderstandings. Additionally OCALI, in conjunction with the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC) has created modules focusing on the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) to support individuals with autism at school, in the home, and in the community. These modules are the Autism Internet Modules (AIM) and the Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) which are free to access once a login is created.
As you continue to learn more about autism, don’t forget to check out the newly released CAPTAIN X Quarterly Newsletter.
This newsletter is a great way to learn more about the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network. The CAPTAIN X Newsletter includes information about resources, local events as well as showcases two different evidenced based practices each quarter. On April 19th CAPTAIN X is holding its 2nd Annual Regional Autism Conference: Preparing for Success Right from the Start. Join us to learn more about the essential skills needed for an individual with autism to be successful in life and how you can provide support.
World Autism Awareness day is just around the corner! Local events that support this day include the Autism Awareness Fest on April 2nd in Rancho Cucamonga as well as the Autism Society of the Inland Empire’s 2016 Hero Walk for Autism on April 17th in Riverside. This April, don’t forget to wear blue and spread the word about autism support, acceptance, and education.
