In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2 April each year as World Autism Awareness Day.

 

The outcomes of the 2005 World Summit of the United Nations General Assembly about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities pointed out that the disabled children must enjoy decent and meaningful lives under an environment that ensures their dignity and promotes self-reliance, actual participation in the society and full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, as the securing of the fundamental freedoms for disabled children is of great importance to achieve the internationally agreed upon developmental goals.

 

Autism symptoms appear during the first three years of life. It is a group of complex disorders hindering the brain development and it varies in degrees. The child with autism suffers from difficulties in social interaction and communication (verbal and non-verbal) and repetitive behaviors.

 

The incidence of autism among children worldwide reached 20 in almost every 10,000 children and the spread of the disorder among male children is 4 times higher than female children.

 

Internationally approved date: April 2nd, 2015

Locally approved date: Jumada al-Thany 12th, 1436H

 

 

 

For more information