PRESS RELEASE March 30, 2026
April 2 World Autism Awareness Day
1 in 31 children’i-Autistic: Time to Turn Awareness into Action So They Can Have Equal Rights with Everyone
Say No to Autism with #
Autism is currently every 1 in 31 children It is seen. While 1 out of every 2,500 children was diagnosed with autism in 1985, despite the rate reached today, individuals with autism struggle to access qualified educational environments, are not accepted in workplaces, and have to cope with major problem areas in terms of being a part of social life and thus life. Individuals with autism may have different characteristics from others, but they have equal rights and freedoms with everyone.
working since 2003 in Turkey to draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis in autism, pioneering the integration of individuals with autism into society through science-based education, and spreading this nationwide TOHUM Autism Foundation, On April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, it once again invites society to move from awareness to action, to accept autistic individuals in every stage of life, and to shine a red light on autism.
Awareness Is Not Enough for Autism, an Inclusive Society Is Necessary
declared by the United Nations April 2 World Autism Awareness Day, aims to increase global awareness of autism. However, at the point reached today, simply creating awareness is not enough.
Autistic individuals still struggle to access equal rights in many areas, from education to employment, and from social life to healthcare services. While early, intensive, continuous, and science-based education plays a decisive role in the development of autistic children, inequalities in accessing these services create a heavy burden for families. TOHUM Autism Foundation, has been working for 23 years to support autistic children in accessing education and integrating them into society.
- to date in educational institutions established in 2006 to 2,814 children with autism Individualized education was provided.
- With the national and international projects carried out to 2.8 million people Reached.
- Guidance was provided to families, training programs were developed for teachers, and efforts were carried out to spread science-based practices.
The increasing prevalence of autism shows that these studies need to be made even more widespread.
Turkey Turns Red for Autism!
With the #OtizmeKırmızıIşıkYak campaign running since 2022, many historical and iconic structures across Turkey will be illuminated with red light this year, just like every year. Institutions and individuals will come together on social media under the same hashtag to show their support for individuals with autism.
The core message of the campaign is clear: Inclusive policies are essential for individuals with autism to take part in every aspect of life, gain access to equal conditions, and receive the acceptance they deserve in society.
Individuals with Autism Need More Than Awareness!
TOHUM Autism Foundation General Manager Seda Köknel drew attention to the importance of the campaign and said: “In a world where 1 out of every 31 children has autism, inclusivity is not a choice, it is a necessity. Public, private sector, and civil society need to act together to ensure that individuals with autism have equal opportunities in education, employment, and social life. It is time to turn awareness into action. In this context, everyone is invited to take a picture on April 2nd with a red object or by wearing red to draw attention to autism, and to share it on their social media accounts’ Say No to Autism with # we invite you to contribute to the building of a fairer and more inclusive society by sharing with the tag.”