TRENDING

It may be a challenge, but it’s for a great cause: Raising autism awareness by mirroring the social silence of those within the autism spectrum.

Social communication is one of the greatest challenges for people with autism. The communication shutdown not only allows participants to take on an empathic vow of silence, of sorts, but it also mimics the isolation and loneliness autistic individuals feel when they can’t quite connect with their peers.

The initiative has spread to 40 countries so far. Getting involved is easy.

If you’ve got the funds, you can donate through the Communication Shutdown to your nation’s autism organizations. Giving the minimum donation of $5 will get you the special CHAPP (charity app), which puts a “shutdown badge” over your profile picture on both Facebook and Twitter. While it won’t restrict your access to your accounts, it’ll let others know that you’re taking a stand.

Wallet empty? No sweat. Why not donate your status, instead? Sign on in the morning—or, even better, the night before—and let folks know why you’ll be MIA on all of your social networks on Nov. 1. Tell ‘em to pass it on, and supply the link to the Communication Shutdown (http://communicationshutdown.org) so that they can get involved, too.

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