It was yesterday. It came and went with little fanfare. I don't know about the other news programs but NBC Nightly News barely acknowledged it was World Autism Awareness Day. At the end of the show Brian Williams said with his serious news voice, "Don't forget - this is World Autism Awareness Day." Yep, that's all they did to help spread awareness. Thanks a lot, NBC! (Put extra sarcasm on that.) The media has a lot of power in this country, and yet NBC focuses their attention on the gossip and dirty laundry and barely gives a nod toward autism. No wonder ASD research is so vastly under funded. No wonder there are so few programs for kids with autism.

Follow up:

What does World Autism Awareness Day mean to us? My wife says, "I don't know. Just everyday life I guess, with our son." Yep, that about says it. We didn't exchange gifts or have a party or anything. Hallmark doesn't have Autism Day cards. I'm not sure what the point is of having this day recognized. Especially when hardly nobody recognized it anyway.

Did Autism Speaks see a huge jump in donations yesterday? I hope not. They pour all their money into researching autism, and none of it goes toward establishing programs for those who already have ASD. They also have nobody with autism on their board. What's up with that? So please don't tell me Autism Speaks is benefiting financially from World Autism Awareness Day.

We went out yesterday, of course. We went to the grocery store. Braden was with us. Nobody was spreading good cheer about autism. Nobody greeted us and said, "Happy Autism Day to you!" "Well thank you very much, my friend! And a happy autism day to you as well!" "Carry on!" We didn't see any autism ribbons hanging up in the store. There was no little box we could put money in to donate to autism. No, we weren't expecting any of this stuff either.

Maybe the people in charge need to brand a color. Know what I mean? When you think of brown, you think of UPS. They've done a great job branding a color. Who would've thought a company could get people to think of them when they think of a color? What about pink? That's breast cancer. The folks in charge of autism day could pick just about any other color. How about green? Not slime green, but more of a forest green. Green could mean autism... couldn't it? However, and whoever, selects the color just make sure people with autism are involved!

Since it's world autism awareness day I wonder if other countries did anything to bring about awareness. Maybe the people of Turkey donated some money to the cause. Maybe the Russian government publicly put a puzzle together down at the town square to help jump start things. Maybe Italy had an autism day parade with a giant inflatable puzzle piece leading the way! I don't think so.

This may sound narcissistic, but I think I'm bringing about more awareness for autism by writing this blog and maintaining Autism Epicenter. Maybe next year I'll celebrate by getting Autism Speaks' logo tattooed on my rear.