For the fifth year in a row, Autism-Europe members were cooperating with NYSE Euronext to raise awareness of autism through bell-ringing ceremonies at stock exchanges in several cities across Europe.
Events to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day were also held by Autism-Europe members in Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
For the fifth year in a row, many cities in Europe also joined the ‘Light It Up Blue’ initiative, with landmark buildings around the world lit up in blue for the night to raise awareness of autism.
Brussels
On April 2, the stock exchange in Brussels held a bell ringing ceremony to open the trading day. Minister for Health, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunity of the Wallonian Government, Eliane Tillieux, rang the bell alongside numerous guests from Flemish and Wallonian autism organisations and Autism-Europe’s Director, Aurélie Baranger.
Paris
The NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Paris held a bell ringing ceremony at the closing of the day’s trading on April 2. Vice President of Autism-Europe, Evelyne Friedel, joined representatives of French autism organisations to sound the bell. Adults with autism also attended the ceremony.