Events Held for Autism Awareness Day
Monday marks the fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day. The Santa Clarita Autism Asperger Network (SCAAN) will host an event in Valencia Monday from 7-9pm. The patios at Westfield Valencia Town Center will be completely lit up with blue lights.
The event hopes to celebrate and raise awareness of autism in a unique way. Santa Clarita Mayor Laurie Ender and SCAAN encourage as many people as possible to attend the public event.
Live music, food, and refreshments will be available, as well as information about Autism and services that are available in the Santa Clarita area.
For the past five years, the United Nations has recognized April 2 to spread awareness of the disease the affects tens of millions of people worldwide.
The United Nations reminds people that Autism is not limited to a single region or country, and that it is a worldwide problem.
One in 88 children are estimated to have Autism according to a recent report by the Center for Disease Control. This is a 78 percent increase from the first report conducted by CDC in 2007.
Students involved in an organization called Autism Speaks set up a booth on Trousdale Monday morning to enourage people to get involved.
The disease is a complex disorder of brain developments, and is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication and repetitive behaviors. Signs of autism tend to emerge between the age of 2 and 3.
The United Nations also hopes to end the discrimination, abuse, and isolation felt by peolpe with autism and their loved ones.
SCAAN encourages people to attend the event to learn more about how to work as a community to create change for people affected by Autism.
Resources, opportunites, and information will be available for anyone who attends the event.
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I'm apart of the Autism Speaks U club on the USC campus and it's amazing the amount of awareness that is taking place around the world! Even in my hometown of Santa Clarita, people are getting involved and it's nice to see how many people care about Autism and are willing to spread awareness and information to those that don't know much about it. Fight on and spread awareness!