Autism Campaigners in the United States of America and around the world are calling on President Elect Barack Obama to to speak out on Autism Sunday - the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome which falls on 8th February 2009. President Elect Obama takes over the Office of the President of the United States in January. Autism Sunday would be the first international date in connection with the serious educational health issues concerning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Many parents, carers and people with autism are struggling to cope with life. In some countries in Africa and Asia there are hardly any public services.
Cathedrals, churches and religious organisations have been urged to observe Autism Sunday 2009 to pray for over 60 million people with autism. 1 in 150 children in the United States are on the autism spectrum. President Elect Obama has been urged to spell out his plans for autism on Autism Sunday 2009.
Autism Sunday was launched in 2002 in the United Kingdom by parents and carers Ivan and Charika Corea - they have a son with autism spectrum disorder. A historic service was held at St.Paul’s Cathedral in 2002 to mark Autism Sunday. Since then churches and religious groups around the world have been marking the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
Ivan Corea, Co-Founder of Autism Sunday, appealed to President Elect Barack Obama to speak out on Autism Sunday 2009. ‘We are urging world leaders and church leaders to speak out on autism on Autism Sunday. This is an opportunity for parents, carers and people with autism to campaign on the serious issues concerning autism. Many families with autism are suffering as a result of the economic downturn and the global recession. Many are in winter fuel poverty. They have to decide between heating and eating. Even in the United States and in the United Kingdom, homes belonging to families with autism have been re-possessed by banks. We call on world leaders including President Elect Barack Obama to speak out on autism.
A US based website Aspie Web.Net Blog has offered prayer suggestions for religious organisations in America - in support of Autism Sunday 2009. They include prayer ideas for the United States and Autism in general:
* Please pray that the Obama administration seek the advice of Autistic Individuals when developing strategies on Autism.
* Please pray that insurance companies be forced to cover scientifically proven therapies.
* Please pray for growing communication between Autism Self-Advocates and lawmakers.
* Please pray that needs of Autistic Individuals can be met in the slow economy.
* Please pray that lies that are harming the autistic community be squashed.
* Please pray for acceptance of the Autistic Community in the church, community, by employers, educational institutions and wherever they may go.
Photograph of President Elect Barack Obama courtesy of the The Obama-Biden Transition Project.
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackAnother thing to pray for is that the media corrects the following statement:
“1 in 150 children in the United States are on the autism spectrum.”
The US CDC issued the following statement which has been ignored by the media:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/CountingAutism/
“More recent studies from multiple countries using current diagnostic criteria conducted with different methods have indicated that there is a range of autism spectrum disorder prevalence between 1 in 500 children and 1 in 166 children.”
and
” • The average autism spectrum disorder prevalence among states participating in the project was 6.7 per 1,000 children in 2000 (6 sites) and 6.6 per 1,000 in 2002 (14 sites), or approximately 1 in 150 children.
” • The average finding of 6.6 and 6.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds translates to approximately one in 150 children in these communities.
” • Most sites identified between 5.2—7.6 per 1,000 8-year-old children with an autism spectrum disorder in 2000 and 2002.
In other words, the 1 in 150 figure is only for specific communities. Spreading that figure across the nation is shoddy journalism at best, sensationalism at worst, and promotes more ignorance about autism during a time when people are praying for less of it.
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I’m glad that this story mentions autistic self-advocates, but you might consider asking atheist Aspies (of whom I personally know a few) how they feel about faith communities praying for them.
About those atheist Aspies … since they do not believe in God anyway what does it matter to them that a few thousand people will be on their knees, wringing their hands and whispering inaudible words?
I doubt very much that any atheist Aspies will be offended by the acts of those who believe in God. In fact, they may actually find it quaint and rather cute the way one finds small animals cute.
Tomorrow, several churches in Lebanon will pray for the Autism Sunday.
Prayers will be done for the sake of Autistic children to have a better life, and be more accepted in the community.
Thank you all who will pray on Feb 8th, 2009.
I’m sure it will be a Great Day and we have Faith that God will hear our prayers !
Dear Sir/Madam,
I’m very happy about the America President, we hope the every things will possible for world. I’m sure it be a great day for the world to come together as one.
Thanks you, Mr. President we love you,
lone live Mr. Obama.
From Amos Harris
from Liberia
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