World Autism Awareness Day is being celebrated for the 3rd year in a row today (April 2) in Chatham-Kent.
The day is being recognized with a flag raising ceremony at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre at 11 a.m.
“To draw awareness to the epidemic that autism has become,” Lori Turner, president of the Chatham-Kent branch of Autism Ontario, said about World Autism Awareness Day.
This year 13 schools across Chatham-Kent are raising the Autism Ontario Flag.
Many of the participating schools will be receiving brochures, and information to be handed out to their students about autism.
Turner said there are 100,000 people in Ontario alone living with autism spectrum disorder.
“We have a chapter locally. It’s getting bigger and bigger,” said Turner.
The Chatham-Kent branch of Autism Ontario operates year round, providing support to families with autistic children in their households.
“Going out to our community and participating in things every day families do,” Turner said about the goal of the branch.
The biggest event for the branch thus far was a trip to the Thamesville Corn Maze which had 70 participants, Turner said.
Dubbed ‘social learning opportunities’ these events are built to help out members of the organization get out to the local community, and have some fun.
“We want to ensure everyone living with autism spectrum disorder has the ability to achieve quality of life,” said Turner.
To learn more about Autism Awareness day go to www.raisetheflagforautism.com, and for more information on the Chatham-Kent branch of Autism Ontario, click here.
– Story by Andrew Roebuck
– Submitted Photo
