Bulgaria marks Tuesday World Autism Awareness Day under the motto "Alone, but not lonely."

The day is marked locally for the sixth consecutive time with several initiatives all over Bulgaria.

Autism awareness is something relatively new for the country. Until recently, it did not even have enough data on the number of people affected. Parents of autistic children from the "Step for the Invisible Children" Foundation said Tuesday that 140 000 in Bulgaria have autism, of them 70 000 to 80 000 were children and their number was growing every year.

The parents also informed Bulgarian schools still do not provide adequate support for these children and their families with many principals declining their inclusion by not allowing them to enroll.

The United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day resolution was adopted on December 18, 2007. It encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention.

Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. About a third to a half of individuals with autism do not develop enough natural speech to meet their daily communication needs.

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders is about 6 per 1,000 people, with about four times as many boys as girls. The number of people known to have autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice.

Autism affects many parts of the brain, but it is unknown how exactly this occurs. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. Although early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills, there is no known cure. Medications can stimulate the brain and help the child adapt better. Few children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, but some become successful.

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