By Tim Saunders on
Yoko Ono – artist, singer and widow of former Beatle John Lennon – is to unveil a new mural titled at UN headquarters next month in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.
Titled Promise Piece, the mural is to be auctioned off in support of the non-profit group Autism Speaks, and will be revealed at an event that marks the 2nd Annual World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on April 2.
The artwork is to broken apart into smaller pieces, and the 58 signed puzzle pieces will be auctioned throughout the month of April, with the caveat that they are to be “re-united” and re-assembled when the cure for autism is found. The event will be sponsored by the Chilean Mission.
"I am proud to partner with Autism Speaks in promoting awareness and advocacy for children with autism," said 76-year-old Ono. “World Autism Awareness Day is not only a day to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, but also to celebrate another big step towards healing our world.”
WAAD was created by the UN General Assembly in 2007 to increase public awareness about autism and to stress the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, and is one of only three health issues honored by the UN with its own special awareness day. Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, will hold a series of national and international events to mark the second annual celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, on multiple continents and in venues ranging from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to the United Nations.
“Last year’s WAAD events were a remarkable success, and we are confident that the scope of this year’s activities will help elevate autism as a topic of international discussion and exploration,” said Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “On this day, we will highlight the tremendous contributions of individuals with autism, as well as the strength and dedication of their families. Together, we are inspiring compassion, inclusion and hope by building a global autism community whose voice is finally being heard.”
To find out more about WAAD events, visit the Autism Speaks website.
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