Autism Awareness Day at the United Nations
By Danielle Lazzara, Self-Advocacy Liaison
On April 5, 2018, World Autism Awareness Day was held at the United Nations. One of the ways that we acknowledged it, here at QSAC, was that four of our staff—Joseph Amodeo, Katie Joyner, Gina Feliciano, and I — attended an enlightening and inspiring event at the UN. It focused mainly on the continuing barriers faced by women with disabilities around the globe.
The 200+ attendees represented nations from across the world. It felt good to know that we Americans are part of a larger family. At the event, a diverse group of speakers made us aware of this global program by talking about the serious challenges that women with disabilities face around the world. In the United States, we’re not unique and we’re not alone. Specifically, women with autism, in every country, receive fewer resources than men in terms of education, economic security, and opportunity. This resource inequality is especially evident in regards to women’s healthcare. Further, a few of the speakers indicated that often women with disabilities are not diagnosed or are under-diagnosed compared to men with disabilities. Finally, women face greater physical risks as targets of sexual exploitation and abuse. In fact, 40% of women with autism spectrum disorder are likely to experience trauma or partner abuse.
Unfortunately, there was not enough time to discuss solutions; however, hopefully we can explore those at the next event. Raising awareness about the unique needs of women and girls with autism is an important first step. At QSAC, our self-advocacy group includes a women’s cooperative, which supports women with autism.
