Today is World Autism Awareness Day

April 2 is recognized as World Autism Awareness Day. This year marks the ninth anniversary of its designation.

Autism Awareness Day aims at highlighting and creating awareness around the need to help improve the quality of life of children and adults, who are affected by autism in order to help them lead full and meaningful lives.

On this date in 2012, the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) along with the Sudbury and District Chapter of Autism Ontario launched an online registry for people with autism living in Sudbury.

The online registry is voluntary and aims at providing the GSPS with quick access to critical information about a registered individual living with autism in the community in an emergency situation.

It is also a significant achievement in addressing the needs of families by providing police and first responders with the critical information and education required to better serve the community.

The registry permits persons with autism who live in Sudbury, or their guardians, to submit their information to the online registry.

Once the information is submitted and processed, registrants are able to refer to their registration if and when they need to place a call for service requiring police.

This in turn will assist patrol officers when attending calls for service involving individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

To this date, 94 people have registered on the Autism Registry and because of its success the Greater Sudbury Police Service is continuing to work towards expanding the registry to include all other Vulnerable Persons, who choose to be part of the program.

A launch date for the expansion will be announced when it is in place.