World Autism Awareness Day
2 April

Events in 2014

Co-sponsored by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Moderated by Dr. Jay Adlersberg
Medical Doctor and Photographer, recognized as Health and Medical Reporter of ABC 7's award-winning Eyewitness News

Inclusion in mainstream educational environments is important to creating the conditions for success in later life for individuals with autism. This two-part discussion will highlight the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the concept.

Keynote Address: “Life, Animated”
Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist and Senior Fellow, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University.

Ron Suskind is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author who has written some of America’s most important works of nonfiction, including the fall’s New York Times bestseller, "Confidence Men: Wall Street Washington and the Education of a President."

He is also the author of bestsellers including, "The Way of the World, A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism"; "The One Percent Doctrine, Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of its Enemies Since 9/11"; "The Price of Loyalty", "George W. Bush, the White House and the Education of Paul O’Neill"; and "A Hope in the Unseen, An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League."

From 1993 to 2000, he was the senior national affairs reporter for the Wall Street Journal, where he was awarded the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. He currently writes for various national magazines, including The New York Times Magazine and Esquire Magazine.

Panelists:

The Legal Instruments

• Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Social Policy and Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• Valerie Karr, Adjunct Professor, University of New Hampshire, and Director, World Enabled
• Gary Mayerson, Attorney, Mayerson & Associates
• Stuart Spielman, Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel, Autism Speaks

Inclusion in Practice

• Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist and Senior Fellow, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University
• Zulfikar Alimuddin, Founder, YCHI Austim Center, Jakarta, Indonesia
• Shirley Cohen, Professor Emeritus, CUNY/Hunter College, Author and Co-developer of the ASD-Nest program hosted by the New York University
• Melissa Diamond, Founder and Director, A Global Voice for Autism – The Jenin Autism Project
• Aaron Lanou, Director of Professional Development, the ASD Nest Support Project, NYU-Steinhardt
• John Miller, Self-Advocate andAsperger's and Autism Facilitator, Boca Raton Middle School
• Students from the IS.75 Paulo Intermediate School, Staten Island

Kindly RSVP here for Keynote Address by Ron Suskind and Panel Discussion no later than 30 March 2014.

Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations

• Opening remarks
  H.E. María Cristina Perceval, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations
• Special Guest
  Dr. Claudia Ledesma de Zamora, Governor of the Province of Santiago del Estero
• Panellists
  Dr. Mariela Nassif, Minister of Education of the Province of Santiago del Estero
  
  Prof. Daniela Águila, Director of Disability of the Province of Santiago del Estero
• Moderator
  Mr. Maher Nasser, Director of Outreach Division, UN Department of Public Information

“The Well “ tells the story of a Pilar, a 26-year-old autistic woman, who does not communicate with other people, she lives in her own world of fantasies, until her family takes a decision that will change the course of their lives.

Download the programme in English or Spanish

Kindly RSVP here for the UN Film Screening of El Pozo no later than 30 March 2014.

Sponsored by the Department of Public Information.

A collection of artwork by people diagnosed with autism, from teenage amateurs to established artists. The collection was assembled by Jill Mullin, a behaviour analyst and educator, and features a forward by Dr. Temple Grandin.

Take a look inside the book. Download the poster.

Over the last decade autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become an international topic of conversation, knowing no racial, ethnic, or social barriers. Behavior analyst and educator Mullin has assembled a staggering array of work from established artists like Gregory Blackstock and Jessica Park, to the unknown but no less talented. Their creations, coupled with artist interviews, comprise a fascinating and compelling book that serves to educate and inspire anyone who knows someone diagnosed with ASD. Mullin’s introduction and the foreword by best-selling author Temple Grandin provide an overview of autism and advocate for nurturing the talents, artistic and otherwise, of autistic individuals.

Using artwork created by individuals diagnosed with ASD, Drawing Autism celebrates their artistry and self-expression while also serving as an accessible point of entry into understanding how ASD manifests in individuals. Autism is known as a “spectrum disorder” because no two diagnoses are exactly the same; however, there are characteristic traits of ASD. Through their art, the contributors exhibit unique perspectives on how they see the world and their places in it. The book’s seven chapters—Interaction, Individual and Societal; Repetition, Repetition, Repetition; Getting from Here to There; Bird’s Eye View; Another World; It’s All History; Art for Art’s Sake—speak directly to the core characteristics of ASD.

Includes a foreword by Temple Grandin, PhD, who is considered the most accomplished adult with autism in the world. She is the author of several books, including the best sellers The Way I See It and Animals in Translation.

Kindly RSVP here for Meet the Author of "Drawing Autism", Jill Mullin no later than 30 March 2014.

Sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Italy and Argentina to the United Nations.

• H.E. Mr. Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations
• H.E. Ms. María Cristina Perceval, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations
• Mr. Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division, UN Department of Public Information
• Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Social Policy and Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• Dr. Jessica G. Davis, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital
• Selene Colombo, Film Director and Producer

‘Ocho pasos adelante’ tells the stories of five children in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and focuses on the importance of early detection and diagnosis. Written and directed by Selene Colombo.

What do we mean when we talk about Autism? How can it be detected early? What does the diagnosis mean for families? Autism today occurs in 1 out of 88 children. In 60 minutes, "Ocho pasos adelante" narrates the daily life of 5 children affected by different levels of Autism. The film explores the point of view of children and families, and shows the work carried out by PANAACEA, a civil association founded in Buenos Aires in late 2011, that consists of various health professionals and educators. The main objectives of the documentary are: to make comprehensive treatment available by focusing on the family, to promote awareness in society, and to promote the importance of early detection. The film is a beautiful journey in the world of Autism that will make you a better parent and a better human being.

Kindly RSVP here for Film Screening: "Ocho pasos adelante" (Eight Steps Forward) no later than 30 March 2014.

Co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the U.N., Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the U.N. and Autism Speaks

Co-sponsored by the United States Mission to the U.N., Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Permanent Mission of Chile to the UN and Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN

Panel Discussion followed by luncheon:

"On behalf of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations and Autism Speaks, please join us for a reception in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day 2014 on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 1:15 PM. This will be held at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations located at 820 Diplomat Center, 4th floor, 2nd Avenue, (between 43rd and 44th street ) NY 10017. Space is limited. Please RSVP to 212-486-6879 or rsvp@bljworldwide.com."

Event details

Panelists:

• Panel Discussion Moderated by Mr. Bill Ritter, Anchor, WABC TV
• Ms. Saima Wazed Hossain, Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Autism , Bangladesh
• Dr. Jacob Kumaresan, Executive Director, WHO Office at the UN, New York
• Ms. Akiko Ito, Chief and focal point on Disabilities, Secretariat of the CRPD, UNDESA
• Ms. Lieve Sabbe, Programme Specialist (Children with Disabilities), UNICEF
• Dr. Andy Shih, Senior VP, Scientific Affairs, Autism Speaks
• Mr. Shekhar Saxena, M. D., Director, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization
• Mrs. Sunghee Byun, Mother of a child with autism and Special Advisor, Autism Society of Korea
• Mr. Jesse Saperstein, Self Advocate
• Mr. David Sternfield , parent of a child with autism and an activist
• Representative from the Shafallah Centre, Doha,Qatar (TBC)