World Autism Awareness Day was recognised with a proclamation by Premier Paula Cox at City Hall. The ceremony drew onlookers onto the City Hall lawns and along Church Street, and included songs, dances, a recital and a puppet show by Prospect Primary School students.Ms Cox noted that a child is diagnosed with autism every 20 minutes, and that “it is conservatively estimated that 35 million people worldwide” have the disorder. Bermuda Autism Support and Education (BASE) public relations officer Anthony Peets introduced his eight-year-old son Ahmani. He told the crowd: “I’m proud to say I’m a dad with a little boy who’s on the autism spectrum.”Mr Peets said he hoped his role would help fathers “who have found themselves with something they didn’t expect” from their autistic children. The event also marked the opening of Autism Awareness Month. April also marks the tenth anniversary since BASE was founded.Susannah Cole said: “People with autism are children, teenagers, adults, men and women, scientists, engineers and the unemployed. They have a unique set of challenges and gifts.”The group presented Ms Cox with a purple garland in appreciation of her support.Useful website: www.bermudaautism.org.