World Autism Day 2020: How to get involved

World Autism Day 2020 is nearly upon us and whether you call it World Autism Awareness Week, World Autism Acceptance Week, we as a community are coming to together to celebrate and promote autistic acceptance.

In this video I explain how to get involved with the #RedInstead movement on April 1st, and the #AutisticGold "Coming out" day on April 2nd.

For more information check out these links:

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#WAAW2020

[YoSamdySam]

Let me know how you'll be getting involved this April!

[anyaklum]

Being part of a movement without leaving the house? Excellent

[IndieAndy]

The mental image of herding cats is just incredible to me 😻😻😻

[thequoter]

I have to do a speech for my English speaking GCSE to teach people about an issue, I chose autism in women: masking, to promote awareness.

[kirsteyjames]

I came out as gay almost 10 years ago and last week i was diagnosed with autism at the age of 32 🙈 Your videos have really helped me over the last year since discovering i may be autistic to actually being diagnosed. We deffo need more awareness, ive spent years not knowing what was wrong with me and thinking i had a brain tumour because of my sensory issues, meltdowns etc. I thought autism was kids with severe learning difficulties that couldnt speak. I wonder how many other people are struggling because they dont know about the spectrum 🤷🏻‍♀️

[altheaunertl]

By the time my father was diagnosed, through family therapy, he was almost 70 years old, and he didn't care much anymore. I think about how much easier his life might have been (and mine) if we'd all understood why he struggled with some social and emotional things.

[BertSingels]

Personally I would rather see the real autistic community to take over world autism day and the color blue instead of creating something next to it. So there won't be competing days with different messages which leads to confusion. As far as for the idea of doing acts of kindness, they should always be done, not just one day. so about RedInstead, I like blue, nice calm color. Don't get me wrong, Red isn't bad, but If I get to choose it will be Purple, just my favorite color.

[mariuszwisla]

Ever since my diagnosis I educate people around me bit by bit at a right time. E.g. During a break at work sitting in a canteen with another colleague I see there is a flickering light, and I say 'some autistic would find it very painful' .
I find it is way better than just push all about autism in one go during awareness day/week/month whatever current version is

[Randomark]

As someone on the spectrum, I always make posts about World Autism Day on Social Media, and point out celebrities who are also on the spectrum.

[noor-]

I will have to think of other ways to be involved since I don't have FB or Twitter (mental health reason). I don't have a large social circle but I'll send some video's trough Whatsapp. If someone has more ideas let me know! ;) I want to say something to start with as an act of kindness. Thank u Sam for your amazing content, u really changed my life for the better. I discovered I am autistic trough your channel (few months ago). It all started by your 'autism symptoms in girls' video. I binge watched your other video's and started seeing life and myself differently. I have been mentally and physically in a bad place many times in the past, discovering my autism feels like life saving to me, seriously. I can't thank u enough, your channel has been the seed to why I'm doing better now. I'm actually so exited about my autism and my way of being now. Just wanted to say this as a reminder, your work had a huge impact on me and has so much value. Thank u :)

[raeph]

I got kicked out of my parents house because I told them and I haven’t herd from them in 5 months so I think it was a win because I was told all my life that I was just born to do all there jobs and make there life easier so I think it was a win love u Sam 👍

[neuralmute]

I love these ideas! And thanks to research, and wonderful people like you sharing coping skills, I've come to rather *like* my ASD! Like Gary Numan, I think of it as a secret weapon, or a superpower. And introverts that we are, this is our year to shine, right? Let us unite, at a distance! (In my case, from quarantine, as I've been unlucky enough to catch a "mild" case of Covid-19, and I've got no idea when I'll be safe to leave my apartment...) I will most definitely be making positive posts online, and since I've got plenty of time on my hands, maybe a nice red and gold banner to hang out my window would be fun to make...

[drbarney]

Two years ago I had to quit a job because I had a supervisor who tried to cure me of my autism. He told me to wear black socks instead of green socks, he told me to remove from the internet anything which caused the students in my classes from finding out about that "strange looking house" I live in and he tried to get me into trouble so I would be in danger of losing my house "for his own good" because the architectural style of it was bad for the "professional image" of a professor. He controlled and micromanaged my private life and cost me more and more of my pay. I burned all my black socks and went back to wearing bright green socks. I openly admit my autism and make public to those whom I think should be told the report of the three day evaluation and testing the University of Pittsburgh Medical School did to diagnose me and I don't care whether any racist who defines us as an inferior race likes it or not.

While green is my favorite color, I will be wearing dress up in my finest 19th Century red vest with a nearly red magenta suit and red jacket this Wednesday April 1.

I do not concern myself if employers deny me opportunity for this because they discriminate against people with graduate degrees anyhow or do not like the gap in your employment record for the years spent in graduate school or recent history of academic employment. I am open to anything else I can do.

[kikideshazo]

Thank you for your videos, they helped me figure out I was autistic and just got me my diagnosis 😁 In perfect timing for autism awareness week

[phoenixrichter]

Sharing thru my blog on the same topic :-) going to wear res both days next week! Going to work on setting ip some posts next week too... so excited about this! (The golden movement and red instead. Last year at this time i was just discovering myself and my son so this movement helped me last year

[rick]

I am sorry but I enjoy watching the Extroverts meltdown by this "isolation" in this pandemic.

I have yet to empathize with their "suffering."

Maybe they will see our side for one

[willimations]

I've been working on a video for the past week, telling my story with autism. It's not the happiest one and my channel is slightly smaller than yours, but my goal isn't to be an ambassador. I was extremely nervous about doing it and was having second thoughts, but thanks to this video, I'm definitely going ahead with it. I'll be posting it to all my social medias, so all my friends and family can see. I'm terrified, but this is something I know I have to participate in and I want everyone to finally know, no more hiding.

[annettehackett]

Thank you for speaking the words I can't put together. I use your videos to educate those around me - I'm mute when it comes to explaining myself to others. Thank you.

[euanelliott]

Hello my fellow autistics.
Isn't it wonderful to be different!
I pity the poor old neurotypical society who are absorbed with cynicism which we don't share.
Ours is a beautiful world, as we have the mind to see it.
Love and Equality to you all.

[Kee-Lo]

Last night, they lit up public buildings in the UK blue for the NHS.