The UK Autism Foundation has called for action on Poverty and Autism on United Nations World Autism Awareness Day scheduled to be held on 2nd April 2009.
World Autism Awareness Day was launched for the first time on 2nd April 2008 by the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on the recommendation of the State of Qatar.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a message to mark UN World Autism Awareness Day 2008, paid tribute to the courage of children with autism and their families, who strive every day to confront the disability with a powerful combination of determination, creativity and hope.
In his message marking the Day, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, stressed the need to build enabling environments for children with disabilities so they can prosper as future members of their communities, citizens of their countries and as fully-fledged members of the global community.
Let us empower them and respond to their needs today, so as to make our societies more accessible, enabling and empowering for all our children tomorrow, he stated.
The Secretary-General noted that throughout its history, the UN has promoted the rights and well-being of the disabled, including children with developmental disabilities.
It is especially fitting that this inaugural Day falls in 2008 -- the year in which we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration for Human Rights, and expect to see the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the General Assembly in 2006, he added.
The UK Autism Foundation is appealing to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN General Assembly to take action on Poverty and Autism. The credit crunch and the the deepening global economic recession has placed huge pressure on families and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. There are many more families below the poverty line. Many have to decide between heating and eating.
In the United Kingdom 42 parliamentarians of all parties have signed David Drew MP's early day motion 710 on Autism Sunday, calling for greater financial support for people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome and for an end to re-possessions of homes belonging to families with autism.
Ivan Corea said: 'The United Nations Secretary General and the UN General Assembly must address the needs of the poor on United Nations World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April 2009. The global economic recession has brought enormous pressures onto families and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Many still suffer without proper public services. Now some have to decide between heating and eating as they face Fuel Poverty. They need help in 2009 to face the economic crisis. We appeal to the United Nations to take real action on WAAD.'
The leaders of G20 countries meet in London on UN World Autism Awareness Day. President Barack Obama is also due in London to attend the G20 Conference. It affords an opportunity for G20 leaders to reach out to families with autism below the poverty line on WAAD.The UK Autism Foundation has urged G20 leaders to help the poor.
Vernon Corea supported the Autism Awareness Campaign UK.
