World marks sixth annual World Autism Awareness Day

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The world on Tuesday, April 2nd marked the sixth annual World Autism Awareness Day -- as the medical community continues to search for a cure.

The famed Sydney Opera House was lit up in blue, as Australians took a stand against autism on Tuesday.

"We're sick of second-rate funding and sick of what's on offer. We want more for children," Charmaine Fraser with Autism Australia said.

The Sydney Opera House was just one of many landmarks that changed color, as the entire world marked Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday -- a day designated by the UN General Assembly back in 2007.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability affecting the brain's functions. People with it may have difficulty interacting socially and communicating with others. The condition generally manifests itself in the first three years of life.

For many, caring for a child with autism is a full-time job. It is something Manny Alvarez from the FOX News Medical A Team has dealt with firsthand, as a doctor and as a father.

"I have a child with autism. We made the diagnosis of my son Ryan at the age of 2. Now he's 15 years old. He's in high school," Dr. Manny said.

It is estimated one in every 150 children worldwide falls within the autism spectrum. In the U.S., the CDC estimates one in every 88 children suffers from it -- with medical expenses totaling more than $4,000 a year, per family.

32 states have now required state-regulated health insurance plans to cover autism. However, getting all 50 states to do the same is still a long way off.

For now, private organizations continue pushing for a cure, and hope their efforts will somehow lead to a breakthrough.

On Tuesday, President Obama unveiled his brain mapping project -- a $1 million initiative to tackle many diseases, including autism.