City of Stamford hosts flag raising ceremony on world Autism Acceptance Day

The Stamford community gathered at the Government Center on Tuesday morning to celebrate Autism Acceptance Day.

Officials raised a flag to bring more awareness and acceptance to the developmental disability.

"In 2007,our awareness campaign started off with who do you know? And people would say ‘What do you mean who do you know?’ Today, in 2024, it's more like who don't you know now?" said Robin Portanova, the president of Stamford Education 4 Autism.

Autism is a condition with a wide-ranging spectrum caused by differences in the brain. In 2007, Autism Fact Desk reported one in 150 children in the country had autism.

That ratio has now grown to 1 in 36, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

MORE: Guide: Autism resources for tri-state organizations