Observe Autism Sunday The Second Sunday in February
The 2nd Sunday in February
is Autism Sunday
Autism Sunday is also known as The International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. We observe the day on the second Sunday in February every year.
The idea of this day is to raise awareness of autism and the challenges it brings.
Although “celebrate” might seem like too upbeat a word for this day, it isn’t really. Think of it as celebrating life and taking a step toward understanding the lives of people with autism.
Ivan and Charika Corea, whose son Charin has autism, started the day in a simple way. They asked for religious leaders and community groups to pray and speak up for people with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
St. Paul’s Cathedral held the first observation in 2002—which was also Autism Awareness Year in the United Kingdom. Everyone there prayed for anyone affected by the condition: patients, their families, and caregivers.
It has since turned into a worldwide event. As well it should be. Estimates suggest as many as 60 million people may have autism.
The day is different from World Autism Awareness Day in April.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
Observing Autism Sunday
Whether or not you know anyone with autism, you may want to learn more about the condition. These books may help:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (revised): The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism
- Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew : Updated and Expanded
- The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed (written by a Colorado State University professor with autism)
Over at Autism Speaks you can find a lot of information, research, and ways to get involved.
Future Autism Sunday Dates
The observation is always on the second Sunday in February, so the actual date changes annually. Here’s a quick list of the dates for the next few years:
- 2019 – Sunday, February 10
- 2020 – Sunday, February 9
- 2021 – Sunday, February 14
- 2022 – Sunday, February 13
- 2023 – Sunday, February 12
- 2024 – Sunday, February 11
- 2025 – Sunday, February 9
- 2026 – Sunday, February 8
- 2027 – Sunday, February 14
- 2028 – Sunday, February 13
- 2029 – Sunday, February 11
[…] Autism Sunday: On the 2nd Sunday in February we help spread awareness and understanding of people with Autism. Because in all the ways that matter they’re just people like the rest of us. […]
[…] Autism Sunday: Learn about autism and speak up for the rights of people with autism. Because they really are just people, like the rest of us. They just happen to have some unique challenges that can be hard for many of us to understand. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. […]