World Autism Awareness Day Observed on 2nd April 2022

02 April 2022
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World Autism Awareness Day Observed on 2nd April 2022

World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on 2nd April by the member states of the United Nations. The day is observed to raise awareness among its citizens about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world. World Autism Awareness Day is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with the support of civil society partners including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Global Autism Project and the Specialisterne Foundation.

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The theme of the day:

The theme for ‘World Autism Awareness Day 2022’ is “Inclusive Quality Education for All”. Access to education that was made easy for years, especially for autistic persons was disrupted after 2020 with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

History of the day:

The United Nations General Assembly designated a resolution (A/RES/62/139). The council passed ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ on November 1, 2007, and adopted it on December 18, 2007. The purpose was to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of autistic people. The very first World Autism Day was observed in the year 2008 on April 2. World Autism Day is one of only seven official health-specific UN Days.

What is Autism?

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication. Autism is a development disorder. The disorder is characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication which may also include restricted and repetitive behaviour. The signs of Autism are often noticed by the parents of the child during the first three years. These signs develop gradually.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• World Autism Organisation: 1998;
• World Autism Organisation President: Dr Samira Al Saad;
• World Autism Organisation Founded: Luxembourg.

World Down Syndrome Day 2022: “Inclusion Means”

22 March 2022
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World Down Syndrome Day 2022: “Inclusion Means”

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is observed every year on 21 March. It is a global campaign that is observed annually to spread awareness about Down Syndrome. The Day is commemorated as a global initiative to increase awareness about hereditary disorders. An individual with Down Syndrome has an extra chromosome.

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Theme

The theme of World Down Syndrome Day this year is “Inclusion Means”. It calls for making efforts to include people with down syndrome in all matters of life and not discriminate against them.

History

The first World Down Syndrome Day was observed in 2006. Then the Brazilian Federation of Associations of Down Syndrome worked with Down Syndrome International and its members to launch an extensive campaign to generate international support. In November 2011, the General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day every year. The next month it declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day.

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. It is not yet known why this syndrome occurs, but Down syndrome has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics and health.

Babies with Down Syndrome have an extra copy of a chromosome, which changes how the baby’s body and brain develop. People with this syndrome usually have an IQ (a measure of intelligence) in the moderately low range and are slower to speak than other children.

World Poetry Day observed globally on 21st March

22 March 2022
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World Poetry Day observed globally on 21st March

On 21st March, World Poetry Day is celebrated every year to recognise the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind. World Poetry Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity.

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted this day during UNESCO’s 30th session in Paris in 1999 with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard. Some countries also celebrate World Poetry Day on October 15 to mark the birthday of Virgil, a Roman poet who is famous for his epic Aeneid.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• World Poetry Day Headquarters: Paris, France;
• World Poetry Day Director-General: Audrey Azoulay;
• World Poetry Day Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom.