Communication Shutdown on November 1, 2010: Are you participating?

Communication Shutdown is a global initiative by AEIOU Foundation [a not-for-profit organisation that provides early intervention therapy for children with autism in Australia] to raise funds and awareness for autism charities in over 40 countries. People around the world have been challenged to go without Facebook or Twitter, for one day, on 1 November 2010.

In the month leading up to Communication Shutdown (1 October, 2010 to 1 November, 2010) people can make a donation to receive a CHAPP ( acharity app) which signals shutdown across their networks. Here’s a short video to understand the campaign better:

So the next question that comes to mind is; What is the link between communication and autism? – Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. By choosing to shutdown your social networks for one day, you will have some idea of what it’s like for people with autism who face this challenge every day. CHAPP i.e. the charity application is a powerful way to create a true sense of empathy towards those on the autism spectrum.

CHAPP – It’s a charity app that has quite a few tricks:

• It connects with your Facebook and/or Twitter account. This shows your support and spreads the word to your friends and followers. It also signals your shutdown on November 1 by placing a ‘shutdown badge’ over your profile picture. (This happens automatically on Twitter and can be manually changed on Facebook.)
• It also adds your Facebook picture to our global mosaic of supporters where you can see yourself next to celebrity supporters.
• As well, it gives you other ways to show support through email signatures, blog buttons or screensavers.

The CHAPP is given to everyone who makes a minimum donation. Depending on your location, this is USD$5, AUD$5, £5 or €5.Some important points that will provide you more clarity on the subject –

• Status of your Facebook and Twitter account – Your accounts will not be deactivated. Once you get the CHAPP, it simply shows people that you have chosen to shut down by way of status updates, tweets and profile pictures. When you get the CHAPP, you are making a donation and helping to raise funds and awareness for autism. If you decide to cheat a little on the day and log on to your account, that’s entirely up to you.
• If for any reason you want to log on to your Facebook or Twitter accounts nobody will get to know unless you put up a status update or tweet
• Post your donation, you can access CHAPP by logging on –http://www.communicationshutdown.org/?view=downloads and enter your name and your email address to access the CHAPP again

The D-Day – Communication Shutdown will take place at 12am, your local time, on 1 November 2010 and will finish at 11.59 pm.

Your donation will go to Communication Shutdown is a global fundraiser for autism where everybody around the world can make a donation to an autism organisation in their own country. Click here to learn more about the global autism partners.

So, are you participating in the Communication Shutdown campaign