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World Autism Awareness Day 2009 Events

Autism Speaks undertook a series of events in New York City to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2009.

For more information about World Autism Awareness Day and listings of events from around the world, please visit www.worldautismawarenessday.org.

President Barack Obama issued a statement celebrating the day; messages from other world leaders can be found here.

Click here for media highlights of World Autism Awareness Day, including video, and here for a more complete list of media covarge.
New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell
For the second year, Autism Speaks volunteers and supporters opened World Autism Awareness Day by ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange.

Read more and see photos and video here.
Yoko Ono PROMISE
At the United Nations, Yoko Ono unveiled PROMISE, a unique piece of art created especially for World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) and Autism Speaks. The mural consists of 67 pieces that will be broken apart and auctioned off individually. With each winning bid comes the promise that when the cure for autism is finally found, all pieces will be reassembled for a day.

Click here to read more and see photographs.
United Nations Panel Discussion and Luncheon
The State of Qatar, the original sponsor of the World Autism Awareness Day resolution, hosted a luncheon at the United Nations with the World Health Organization for UN Member States as well as guest speakers including Autism Speaks co-founders and chief science officer.

Click here to read more.
Central Park Autism Awareness Event
Autism Speaks and the Ad Council hosted a unique awareness event at Central Park in New York, N.Y. to highlight the prevalence of autism and to mark World Autism Awareness Day. Reactions to the event were captured and will be used for a new public service announcement in Autism Speaks' awareness campaign.

Click here to read more about the event and see photographs
"beyond.word"s by dre.dance
World Autism Awareness Day concluded with the performance of "beyond words," a modern dance performance by dre.dance at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center in downtown Manhattan. Artistic Directors Andrew Palermo & Taye Diggs, joined Autism Speaks Executive Vice President Peter Bell and the dancer for a lively question and answer period following the performance.

Click here to read more and see photographs.
Foreign Press Center Briefing
On April 1, Autism Speaks co-founders Bob and Suzanne Wright held a briefing with members of the U.S. State Department's Foreign Press Center in New York City. Members of the press from England, China, Germany, India, Taiwan, Denmark and Russia gathered in New York City to hear updates on Autism Speaks' global research projects and awareness campaigns.

Click here to read more and see photos
Lindt & Sprüngli Awareness Event
To kick-off Autism Awareness Month and one day before World Autism Awareness Day, international chocolate company Lindt and Sprüngli, hosted a ceremony at New York City's Palace Hotel to honor "Lindt Unsung Heroes for Autism."

Click here to learn more.
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