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CQ Autism Awareness: Hams Worldwide Tune In for Inclusion


Countries Represented
Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, British Columbia, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UAE, Venezuela, Wales, West Malaysia, Qatar

This meaningful event is organized for the third year by James Gallo, KB2FMH. Unlike traditional contests, there are no trophies or points to be won. For James, the true prize lies in the conversations—the rag-chews and shared stories that spread the message: it’s OK to be different.

That message is traveling far and wide. In last year’s event, over 17,000 QSOs (contacts) were logged, with signals stretching nearly 83 million miles across the globe. Hams are proving that while autism may make individuals feel alone, they are anything but.

In the U.S., tune in to the special event callsign W2A. Internationally, listen for stations like GB2AA, 8A2AAW, S76A, VO1BIG/VE3, and 7A2M. I am volunteering for this event and will be calling out W2A this week. To see the full list of participating callsigns and learn more, visit the .

** If you'd like to volunteer for the event, send an email to hamradioevents@... - attached to this post is the Operators guide for Special Event participation 2025.pdf **

Autism spectrum disorder is one of the fastest-growing developmental disabilities in the United States—more common than childhood cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It affects 1 in 68 children, with boys nearly five times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.

ASD doesn’t discriminate. It crosses all boundaries—nationality, religion, race, and gender. It typically appears before the age of three and, while there is no medical cure or detection method, early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve outcomes.

Individuals with autism often possess unique talents—some are exceptional artists, musicians, or mathematicians. Many experience hyperlexia, the ability to read far above their age level. Notable figures like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Andy Warhol, and Bill Gates are widely believed to have been on the autism spectrum.

Autism Awareness Week on the air is more than a special event—it’s a worldwide effort to connect through shared humanity. It reminds us all that through conversation, empathy, and acceptance, we can make the world a little more inclusive—one call at a time.

So listen in. Answer the call. And help make a difference.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: LOG WHAT YOU HEAR - ONLY

When you HEAR an operator using one of the calls, mainly the W2A call from our large group of ops across the US, log ONLY the call they SAY, Do Not log what you See on any clusters, Especially the POTA spots.?
Logging with Any modifier will prohibit any QSO matching when you go to request your card via the OQRS link as well as no getting confirmations on QRZ, LoTW or ClubLog.?
ONLY W2A/KH6 and W2A/KL7 modifiers should be logged for the DX Entity credit