World autism day

Last Wednesday, the first World Autism Awareness Day, was quietly observed in the country.

The United Nations General Assembly designated April 2 as a day to focus on children and adults suffering from autism. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's appeal to empower them and respond to their needs should not fall on deaf ears.

Autism is diagnosed by a child's behavior. For decades the diagnosis was related only to children with severe language and social impairments, and unusual, repetitive behavior. But in the 1990s, the autism umbrella was expanded and now includes people with milder conditions.