World Autism Awareness Day – “What the World Is Doing (and What We Still Need)”

It’s World Autism Awareness Day, which means you’ll see a lot of global efforts today: UN panels, hashtags like #LightItUpBlue, curated campaigns about “seeing the whole person,” and a flood of well-intended social media posts.

And listen—I love awareness. But awareness without follow-through is just branding.

Here’s what some of the world is doing right:

• The UN is hosting a virtual conversation focused on autistic participation in education and employment. They’re talking inclusion in policy—not just social media.

• The Autism Society is pushing #CelebrateDifferences and highlighting autistic voices—not just speaking about autism, but with the people living it.

• UK orgs are raising funds for actual services that support real families, not just putting blue lights on public buildings.

But you know what I don’t see?

• I don’t see school districts winning the adaptive extracurriculars gap.

• I don’t see 1:1 supports being honored, compensated fairly, elevated beyond the classroom.

• I don’t see a nationwide shift in how we resource families, staff schools, or providers.

So yes, it’s World Autism Awareness Day. But if we’re being honest? Most of us are still in local battles just to get our kid in a damn tennis class.

Today’s a reminder that this is a global movement—but it has to start right here in our own neighborhoods.

Because until the answer isn’t zero, we’re not done.