Autistic Pride Day 2024: Theme, History, Significance, Celebration, Facts

Autistic Pride Day is a pride celebration for autistic people held on 18 June each year. The aim of this day is to recognize the importance of pride for autistic people and bring positive changes for them in the world. Autistic Pride Day was first observed in 2005 by Aspies For Freedom (AFF) and is often celebrated with events organized around the world. In this article, you can find important details related to Autistic Pride Day 2024 such as its observance, symbol, significance, history, etc.

Autistic Pride Day 2024 Overview

Autistic Pride Day Date 2024

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for Autistic Pride Day for the upcoming 5 years.

Significance of Autistic Pride Day

Autistic Pride Day aims at making a point that autistic people are and always have been an important part of society. One of the most significant features of the day is that is observed by the autistic people themselves and not by some organizations or charities that fight for the pride and rights of such people. The day has always been a community event and not a platform for other organizations to promote themselves.

History of Autistic Pride Day

The first Autistic Pride Day celebration was held in 2005 and organized by the Aspies For Freedom (AFF). The AFF also modeled the celebration on the gay pride movement. June 18 was selected as the day of observation as it was the birthday of the youngest member of the group at that time. The symbol of the day is a rainbow infinity that represents “diversity with infinite variations and infinite possibilities”.

See: Other Special Days in June

Celebration of Autistic Pride Day

Autistic Pride Day is observed with many events organized all around the world. These events are aimed at connecting autistic people with allistic people (people who are not on the autism spectrum) and at promoting the self-affirmation, identity, dignity, and equality of autistic people around the world. Not just on 18 June, but the celebrations of Autistic Pride Day begin in June and last up to August. After the coronavirus pandemic, most celebrations were switched to online but after its effect is wearing off, communities are trying hard to get back to the previous planning of their events.

The theme for Autistic Pride Day 2024

World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated every year with a specific theme. Last year, the theme was “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking.” The current year’s theme is yet to be decided.

Lesser-known Facts about Autism

Here are some facts about Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that everyone must know.

1. About 1 in 36 children is affected with ASD in the United States.
2. The chances of ASD are about 4 times more in boys than girls.
3. On average, ASD costs a family around $60,000 in the US.
4. There is no cure for ASD, but children with this condition can be helped to learn skills to improve everyday life.
5. Many children with autism spectrum disorder face difficulty in communication.
6. A therapy dog can help an autistic child to mix with others.
7. All of the causes of ASD are not known but contributing factors include genes, early brain development, and the environment.
8. The behaviors of the parents before, during, and after pregnancy do not cause ASD.
9. ASD can be detected in toddlers as early as 18 months.
10. Some people are not diagnosed with ASD until their adulthood.

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