Inclusive Quality Education for All - World Autism…

Over the past decade, major progress has been made towards increasing access to education generally, as well as for persons with autism specifically.

However, in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools, impacting more than 90 per cent of students worldwide. Many students with autism have been especially hard hit and studies show that they have been disproportionately affected by disruptions to routines, as well as services and supports that they rely on.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015 recognize that ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education is the foundation for improving people's lives and reducing inequalities. The 2022 World Autism Awareness Day observance will, therefore, address inclusive education in the context of SDG 4 (Quality Education) with a virtual event that will include a moderated panel discussion, along with brief presentations by self-advocates, educators and other experts.

The event is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with the support of civil society partners including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Global Autism Project and the Specialisterne Foundation. The event is co-sponsored by the United Nations Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, Malta, and Poland.