Tuesday, April 2, is autism spectrum disorder awareness day in Yellowknife.
Acting mayor Adrian Bell made that offical on Monday; his 'proclamation' reflecting a growing public awareness of the disease.

The Yellowknife Association for Community Living has been holding its annual Light it up Blue campaign on April 2 SA国际影视传媒� which is world autism awareness day SA国际影视传媒� for three years now. YKACL executive director Lynn Elkin said the day is a great way to show support for those living with ASD.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have many people across all of our programs that live with ASD and I think having world autism day is a great way to reflect and show support for (them),SA国际影视传媒� Elkin said. SA国际影视传媒淧eople with ASD are involved in all areas of life. The disease is not a bad thing or a good thing, it's just something (people) live with and we need to support them.SA国际影视传媒�
Bell said making Tuesday ASD awareness day was a proactive step by the city to SA国际影视传媒渇urther the discussion.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚ncreasing awareness and showing support for peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 health and disabilities is important to keep top of mind,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 believe Yellowknifers are very accommodating and caring people.SA国际影视传媒�
The idea for a city-sanctioned ASD day was brought to councillors by Autism Society NWT president Denise McKee in March.
McKee said she was pleased the city had officially recognized the day to show support for those living with ASD, but she also wanted people to use it as an opportunity to talk about personal experiences and public services.
SA国际影视传媒淓very person's needs when living with autism are unique,SA国际影视传媒� said McKee. SA国际影视传媒淎s people age there are less and less services available for the people who need them.SA国际影视传媒�
The Public Health Agency of Canada released the National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System report on Thursday SA国际影视传媒� the first comprehensive review of the prevalence of ASD in the country.
According to the agency, one in 66 children and youth (aged 5 to 17 years) are living with autism in Canada. The disease is five times more common in boys than in girls.
While those numbers give an indication of how common autism is in Canada, the Department of Health and Social Services said there is no way to accurately account for the amount of people living with autism in the NWT specifically.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Congenital Anomalies Registry includes data only from diagnoses after Jan. 2011 among those born in the NWT and who are under 19 years of age,SA国际影视传媒� said DHSS spokesperson Umesh Sutendra.
SA国际影视传媒淚f the diagnosis was prior to 2011, or if a diagnosis occurs after age 18 years, or if the place of birth is not within the NWT, the case will not be captured in the registry.SA国际影视传媒�
ASD affects families and friends as well, said NWT Health Minister Glen Abernethy, who believes important work is being done at the territorial level to make sure those living with and alongside ASD are supported.
SA国际影视传媒淭hrough our ASD action plan we are ensuring those living with ASD and their families will have access to speech pathologists and occupational therapy, which is autism specific,SA国际影视传媒� Abernethy said.
SA国际影视传媒淲e put $848,000 into the 2018-2019 budget to help develop our disabilities framework and create the action plan, which we are hoping to release before the next budget is released.SA国际影视传媒�
Abernethy said he knows families who have left the NWT because autism services were inadequate. He hopes that will change.
DHSS is planning to hire coordinators to accommodate families impacted by the disorder. Abernethy said one will be rolled out next year, followed by a second coordinator in 2021-2022.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's a lot of work and it's important work,SA国际影视传媒� said Abernethy. SA国际影视传媒淗aving the legislation in place will help us move forward to providing better care for people with ASD.SA国际影视传媒�
McKee said there are already a lot of speech pathologists and occupational therapists in the NWT. She said parents want a different approach.
SA国际影视传媒淧arents are worried about getting specific treatment that covers the entire spectrum of autism,SA国际影视传媒� said McKee.
SA国际影视传媒淐urrently there are great services for children between birth and six-years-old ... left out are the youth, adults, and aging population who have ASD.SA国际影视传媒�