Autism Speaks, Ad Council Host Unique Awareness Event in Central Park

On Thursday, April 2, Autism Speaks and the Ad Council hosted a unique awareness event at Central Park in New York City to highlight the prevalence of autism and to mark World Autism Awareness Day.

Strollers in Central Park

Maclaren donated 150 strollers which were gathered at the Bandshell in the park to drive home the message that 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism and that learning the early warning signs is the first line of defense against the disorder.

Cameras were strategically placed inside some of the strollers to capture the public's reaction to the event. This footage will be used to create a new public service announcement (PSA) for the Autism Speaks/Ad Council Autism Awareness campaign. Autism Speaks will donate the strollers and some of the dolls from the event to Baby Buggy, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing New York City's families in need with essential equipment, clothing, and

The message on the doll's blanket encourages passersby to learn the early warning signs of autism

products for their infants and young children. Autism Speaks will also donate some of the dolls to New York-area schools for children with autism.

See more pictures from the event here.

Read more about Baby Buggy here and Maclaren here.

Click here to learn more about the Ad Council Autism Awareness campaign