Join us in supporting World Autism Awareness Day

On Wednesday 2 April 2014 Run England is supporting World Autism Awareness Day and we are encouraging running groups to join in too!

World Autism Day is celebrated on 2 April annually. It aims to increase and develop world knowledge of autism, celebrate the unique talents and skills of people with autism and is a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe.

Light It Up Blue

On 2 April each year Autism Speaks celebrates ‘Light It Up Blue‘ along with the international autism community, in commemoration of the United Nations sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day. Light It Up Blue is a unique global initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism. In honour of this historic day, many iconic landmarks (including the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth), hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, bridges and shops are among the hundreds of thousands of homes and communities that take part to Light It Up Blue. For more information visit- http://liub.autismspeaks.org/welcome

Get Involved

Athletics clubs, Run England groups and AthleFIT sessions can all get involved to show their support and raise awareness for autism:

• Provide support for coaches and leaders
  Click here for the SCUK Impairments Specific Factsheet on Autism
  The National Autistic Society also provide guidance which includes information on using visual communication and giving spoken instruction: Click here to see these online.
• Wear blue
  Why not encourage club/group members to wear blue for training?
• Social media
  Show your support on Facebook or turn your club/group Facebook and Twitter pages blue!  Click here fr help on creating a blue Twibbon
• Participate
  If you have autism and would like support to take part in athletics locally to you please register here: www.englandathletics.org/disabledathleteinfo