Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day

Celebrating World Autism Day

Autism awareness week (27 March – 2nd April 2017) aims to help everyone understand autism. Sunday 2 April marks the ninth annual Autism Awareness Day, and the whole world will be celebrating. In 2016 over 16,000 buildings across the globe were lit up in bright blue to raise international awareness of autism. And this year is no different. We just wish we could join in and light up our glass building blue!

Worldwide landmarks such as The Empire State Building in New York City, The Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza and Barcelona’s La Basilica de la Sagrada Familia have once again pledged to #lightitupblue in order to shine a light on autism.
World Autism day aims to raise funds and awareness about autism so that autistic people are understood, appreciated and accepted. It calls for greater access and work opportunities for people on the autism spectrum while celebrating their unique talents.

There are around 700,000 people with some form of autism in the UK, which equates to more than 1 in 100. A wide range of fundraising campaigns will take place across the country on Saturday including Night Walks and pop-up shops showcasing the work of artists with autism.

Upon launching World Autism Day the UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-Moon said, “we encourage public offices, corporations and small businesses to have a closer look at the way they perceive people with autism, to take the time to learn about the condition and to create life-changing opportunities. Let us join forces to create the best possible conditions for those with autism, so that they can make their own contribution to a future that is fair and sustainable for all.”

At The Courtyard we recognise that some people may prefer a less-formal theatrical experience. Our Relaxed Performances are specifically adapted to welcome people with autism; to give those who might feel excluded an opportunity to experience live theatre. Audience members are invited to make noise and move around as much as they like and small changes to the light and sound effects will be made to reduce any anxiety.

Following on from the success of January’s adaptation of our pantomime Aladdin, our next Relaxed Performance will be Sleeping Beauty on Tuesday 2 January, 10.30am. You can book online now, or by calling Box Office on 01432 340555.

We’re also starting to do Relaxed Screenings of films, you can find out what’s coming up on our Access page.