Research suggests that 1 in 36 children is autistic. Over the past two decades, the number of autistic children has increased tenfold. There is no kindergarten group, school class, or workplace where we do not encounter someone diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. One in four autistic children is severely affected and requires continuous 24-hour care.

As part of the Not Invisible! campaign by Autism Europe and the Mars Foundation, attention is being drawn to the fact that decision-makers are neglecting a vast, invisible population.

To mark World Autism Awareness Day, the organization launched an online guerrilla action, flooding the internet, politicians' personal pages, and media platforms with drawings by autistic children. Volunteers and affected families are working to bring this invisible group to the attention of decision-makers and the public.

"Autism does not end with childhood. When we apply children's data to the adult population, we find that 1% of adults are on the autism spectrum. They will need expert support throughout their adult lives—at universities, in workplaces, and beyond. Those who are more severely affected will require 24-hour, personalized support and housing services," says Zsuzsanna Szilvásy, head of the Mars Foundation.

Only 25% of autistic adults are employed in the open labor market, compared to the general employment rate of 75%. Additionally, 49% still rely on their parents for care in their family homes. Even among employed autistic adults, 75% live with their parents, as they receive necessary social support from them and cannot achieve full independence.

"Autistic children grow into autistic adults. They have dreams, desires, and goals, just as we once did. They want to learn, work, and live like anyone else. Through this guerrilla action, we aim to make their aspirations visible through their drawings - aspirations that currently go unnoticed," adds Zsuzsanna Szilvásy.

The Mars Foundation was established in 2017 to support families raising autistic children from the moment of diagnosis through adulthood.

The foundation provides parental training, individual and group consultations, and autism-specific development programs for children. Its mission is to equip parents with the knowledge they need to understand and support their children while also managing the challenges of daily life at home.

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