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World Autism Awareness Day 2023: join us at our events at the European Parliament!

Ahead of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), Autism-Europe is kicking off its campaign “Building an inclusive society for autistic people” in the European Parliament in Brussels at the end of March 2023. This year also marks a special occasion, as AE celebrates its 40th anniversary, an opportunity to take stock and reflect on how to shape the future of society for autistic people  

This 2023 WAAD campaign will be an opportunity to reflect on the advances made so far for the autism community and the work that remains to improve the lives of autistic people. Therefore, AE is co-organising with MEP Rosa Estarás (EPP, Spain) two events at the European Parliament in Brussels to support an inclusive society for autistic people

Download the press release about the WAAD 2023 events here.

Pictures from the autism community 

First, a photo exhibition at the European Parliament will showcase the perspectives of autistic people and their lived experiences, as well as ways in which society could better work for them. The exhibition will display a selection of twenty-five pictures submitted by ten talented photographers who have participated in AE’s WAAD 2023 photo competition. Available at the European Parliament (Area ASP, Balcony, 5G) for an entire week – from 27 to 31 March 2023 – the photo exhibition will be inaugurated by an opening event on 28 March (11-12 AM). More information about the event here

Conference “Building an inclusive society for autistic people” – 30 March 2023 (9 – 11 AM) 

As part of its campaign, AE is also co-organising with MEP Estarás a conference at the European Parliament, featuring autism community representatives and policy-makers. Participants will have the chance to hear first-hand experiences from autistic people and, therefore, learn more on how to foster a more inclusive society and what key policy developments are needed to effectively support the autism community.  

The conference will take place on 30 March 2023 (9 – 11 AM) at the European Parliament (Room ASP 3E-2) in Brussels, allowing remote access via Webex. 

Download the programme here.

Important: the deadline for registration was 22 March 2023 at 23:59. 

How to engage online with the WAAD 2023 campaign? 

Both the photo exhibition and the conference are part of the wider AE’s WAAD 2023 campaign. AE invites its members, the autism community and EU policy-makers to join the campaign for #AutismDay2023 and show their support for a better society for autistic people! 

From 2 April throughout the whole month, AE will start sharing on its social media channels the policy messages from its campaign manifesto (available in English), as well as content of the photo exhibition at the European Parliament. So, even if you won’t be able to attend our events, you won’t lose the chance to get engage in AE’s WAAD 2023 campaign!  

A campaign toolkit with more information is coming soon, so please keep an eye on AE’s communications channels.