Times of India
06 October 2010
Bangalore, India

Citizens In 40 Nations To Spend Nov 1 Without Social Networking
How about spending a day without social networking? Sounds tough, but if you could compromise just for a day, you might end up helping people suffering from autism.

On November 1, citizens around the world will become part of Communication Shutdown, a global initiative extended across 40 countries, to create more awareness and raise funds to help out autistic persons.

Go Offline
Through this initiative, people around the world have been challenged to go without Facebook or Twitter, just for a day. Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. By choosing to shut down their social networks for one day, users will have some idea of what it’s like for people living with autism, who face this challenge every day.

The Communication Shutdown campaign encourages Facebook and Twitter users to make a donation and receive a charity application (CHAPP) that will signal their support and intention to boycott their social networking accounts on the first day of November.

A Day In Their Shoes
"My wife Katharin and I started The Asha Foundation Trust (TAFT) in 2001 to help differently abled children with a focus on those suffering from autism. My only child is autistic and I am, therefore, intimately aware of the challenges they live through in their daily life. They are misunderstood, socially isolated and live in their own world, shut off from the mainstream. Communication Shutdown is a simple effort to make people feel what autistic individuals go through in their everyday lives," said chief patron of TAFT Ramesh Vangal.

Tabs On Social Media Habits
As people bank more on these channels to communicate worldwide, the Communication Shutdown fund–raising campaign will serve as a social experiment on social media habits. From October 1 onwards, the Communication Shutdown’s CHAPP will be available on campaign website www.communicationshutdown.org.

What Is Autism?
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted as well as repetitive behaviour