The seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2014. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.
Did you know …
- Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
- Autism prevalence figures are growing
- Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
- Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
- Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
- Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
- There is no medical detection or cure for autism
A business owner with an autistic child of her own, wanted to get her company involved to support Autism Awareness Day. While she wanted the support, she didn’t want to make it all about her and her child. She decided she would reward each employee that would help and donate to the cause.
On the World Autism Awareness Day page there is a Campaign called “Light it Up Blue.” Here it gives you a few ways you can shine a light on Autism. She gave all this information to her employees and explained how they could help. For all those who participated, she took their lunch order and brought it to the office to enjoy. Also, anyone who donated could have a dress down day to wear blue on April 2 to show their support.
Many of the employees said they would have donated to the cause regardless of the free lunch because they know how close this is to their boss’s heart. They did appreciate the extra mile she went though to thank them for their support though. She has created more of a family atmosphere at the office and they seem to support and care for each other on a personal level. The office ended up raising over $2,000 to donate to Autism research.
Information and Case study provide by, Autism Speaks Inc. Autism Speaks and Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue.
Autism Awareness Day