April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, an opportunity to raise awareness and acceptance, and to build a society where autistic people are supported and understood. Throughout April, let’s all “Light It Up Blue”!
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is characterised by differences in social communication and the presence of restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests, or activities (Hodges et al., 2020; CDC, 2025). Common early signs include avoiding eye contact, not responding to their name by 9 months, limited facial expressions, lining up objects, heightened sensitivity to sensory input (e.g. light, texture, taste), mental rigidity, and difficulty adapting to change (CDC, 2024). ASD is identified more frequently in boys than girls (around 3:1) and often co-occurs with conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, and sleep disorders, with some studies reporting rates as high as 74% (Khachadourian et al., 2023).
Prevalence has increased over the past decade, with countries such as the US (CDC, 2025) and Japan (Saito et al., 2020) reporting rates of approximately 3.2% (1 in 31) among children. While the causes are still being studied, contributing factors likely include improved screening, reduced stigma, greater public awareness, and broader diagnostic criteria in DSM-5 (2013) and ICD-11 (2019) that include previously separate diagnoses like Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
There has also been increased representation of ASD in the media, including characters such as Dr Shaun Murphy in The Good Doctor, Woo Young-woo in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and Julia on Sesame Street. While these portrayals can raise awareness, it is important to recognise that autism is a spectrum, and individual experiences and presentations vary widely.
ASD is a lifelong neurodivergent condition, and each person has a unique profile of strengths and challenges that may change over time. One of the most important factors in supporting children with ASD is early identification and assessment, allowing for timely intervention. Signs can often be detected from around 18 months, and diagnosis may begin at this stage. Evidence-based supports include Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), social skills groups, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and parent training. Legal protection in many countries have also become common, including IDEA and IDEA part C in the US and 発達障害者支援法 (2005), 障害を理由とする差別の解消の推進に関する法律 (2013) and 改正障害者差別解消法 (2024) in Japan.
Assessments are an important first step for parents and professionals to better understand where the child’s functioning level is and how to best support them. At TELL, our highly trained Assessment team can be an excellent resource for families who could benefit from this type of assessment, in accordance with US gold standards, including tools such as ADI-R and ADOS-2.
While ASD symptoms can present challenges, a child or individual is not solely defined by their condition. With supportive resources, nurturing parenting, and targeted therapies, many individuals develop greater independence, confidence, and meaningful participation in daily life and society. We can all play a role in creating a more inclusive environment by increasing our understanding, respecting diverse experiences, and remaining open-minded in our interactions. And of course, by lighting it up blue this April.
TELL Assessment team
Citations:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). Signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025a, April 15). About autism spectrum disorder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025b, April 17). Prevalence and early identification of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 4 and 8 years – autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 16 sites, United States, 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm
- Hodges, H., Fealko, C., & Soares, N. (2020). Autism spectrum disorder: Definition, epidemiology, causes, and clinical evaluation. Translational Pediatrics, 9(S1). https://doi.org/10.21037/tp.2019.09.09
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health . (2025, June 6). Is there an autism epidemic? | johns hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health. Is There an Autism Epidemic? https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/is-there-an-autism-epidemic
- Khachadourian, V., Mahjani, B., Sandin, S., Kolevzon, A., Buxbaum, J. D., Reichenberg, A., & Janecka, M. (2023). Comorbidities in autism spectrum disorder and their etiologies. Translational Psychiatry, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02374-w
- Saito, M., Hirota, T., Sakamoto, Y., Adachi, M., Takahashi, M., Osato-Kaneda, A., Kim, Y. S., Leventhal, B., Shui, A., Kato, S., & Nakamura, K. (2020). Prevalence and cumulative incidence of autism spectrum disorders and the patterns of co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders in a total population sample of 5-year-old children. Molecular Autism, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-020-00342-5
- Sasayama, D., Kuge, R., Toibana, Y., & Honda, H. (2021). Trends in autism spectrum disorder diagnoses in Japan, 2009 to 2019. JAMA Network Open, 4(5). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.9234
- World Health Organization. (2025, September 17). Autism. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders