Georgian to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day April 2

March 26, 2015

Georgian will raise a flag at the Barrie Campus cenotaph to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2.

The event, which gets underway at 11 a.m., is a joint effort between the college’s Community Integration through Co-operative Education (CICE) program and the Simcoe County chapter of Autism Ontario.

“World Autism Awareness Day draws attention to the growing number of individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in our communities,” says Renee Ferguson, Co-ordinator, CICE program. “It highlights the importance of public education, early intervention and continuing support for people with ASD to help them reach their fullest potential.”

The event will celebrate the unique and important contributions individuals on the spectrum make in our communities and show how they help shape an inclusive society that embraces diversity.

ASD is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, repetitive behaviours and how individuals on the spectrum process information and experiences.

World Autism Awareness Day was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a light on autism as a growing global health crisis. This is the first time Georgian has taken part in the event.

In addition to the two-year CICE certificate, Georgian offers a wide variety of services for students with autism, including accessibility advisors and the ASD transition program.

Staff, students and the public are all welcome at the event.