World Autism Awareness Day 2025: What You Need To Know About The Disorder

World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on April 2, is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) while promoting acceptance, inclusion, and support for those affected. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, the day aims to highlight autism as a growing global health concern and encourage worldwide efforts to support individuals with autism and their families.

What is Autism?

Autism, commonly known as autism spectrum disorder, is a lifelong neurological illness that first appears in childhood. The disorder is characterised by social deficits, communication difficulties, and confined, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviour patterns. To put it simply, autism is a neurological illness that impacts a person's capacity to communicate with others. The condition starts in childhood and lasts till maturity.

World Autism Awareness Day's History

To raise awareness of the needs of people with autism, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force in 2008, reiterating the fundamental premise of universal human rights for all.

World Autism Awareness Day's Aim

The aim of the day is to raise awareness of autism and to encourage people to assist individuals who are affected by it. The day also attempts to promote kindness and autism awareness, as people with autism rely heavily on others for assistance. As a result, the General Assembly has called on people to come together and assist autistic individuals on this day.  As per the United Nations General Assembly, World Autism Day aims to "highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society."

World Autism Day 2025's Theme

This year, the United Nations will mark the occasion on Wednesday with the theme "Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." The focus is on fostering inclusive policies and practices that empower and support autistic individuals.

 Moreover, throughout April, Autism Awareness Month is also observed with a focus on sharing stories and opportunities to enhance understanding and acceptance of people with autism, as well as promote global support through campaigns, summits, and webinars.

As per a study published by American National Library of Medicine, "The lack of autism spectrum disorder awareness could be a key factor underlying the disparities. To date, there has been no evaluation of autism spectrum disorder knowledge among the general public of China."