Do you know someone affected by autism?I do and I’ve seen the struggles first hand. The struggles to get proper care, proper schooling, and even the struggle to be understood and accepted. Why am I supporting the cause? Because it’s important, because it affects people I know and love, because not enough is known yet. It’s highly likely that you know someone with autism too. With your help and support we can help increase understanding and acceptance of autism.
It’s Time To Light It Up Blue To Increase Understanding And Acceptance Of Autism
It’s the little things that matter and make a difference. Like the local movie theatre that hosts a lights on and sounds low movie experience. Or the shopping center that hosts The Caring Bunny experience for a photo with the Easter Bunny in a quieter environment. Today is World Autism Awareness Day – let’s work together to increase understanding and acceptable of autism in the world around us.
The CDC estimates autism’s prevalence of children with autism as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. An estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults – and lose school-based autism services – each year. Around one-third of people with autism have an intellectual disability. Since April is World Autism Month, I’ve decided to #LightItUpBlue with Autism Speaks to increase understanding and awareness of autism.
Light It Up Blue
The “Light It Up Blue” campaign is about more than awareness — it is about increasing understanding and acceptance of autism. This includes advocacy and support for people across the entire spectrum throughout their lives. It also includes advancing research into personalized treatments for autism and related conditions.
Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include GI disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias. Did you know that around one-third of people with autism remain nonverbal? And all that’s needed to help is to extend a helping hand to a parent in need.
You can help make a difference. If you’re moved to do so after visiting AutismSpeaks.org, please show your support for and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with autism by sharing a photo to #LightItUpBlue for Autism Awareness Month too. Also, check out Autism Speaks’ nationwide calendar of autism-friendly friendly events and activities.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Autism Speaks enhances lives today and is accelerating a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow.
April is World Autism Month. How much do you know about autism?
Join the conversation online with #LightItUpBlue #WorldAutismMonth #Autism #UnderstandAutism
Comments (7)
I so agree with you. There are so many people out there with autism. These are very special people with special needs. Thank you so much for sharing
This is so important. It’s amazes me (still!) that so many people have no real understanding of autism.
this is great
I think this is great to let people know about autism.
I, too, think that this is great to spread the word about autism.
This is a good cause. I thought I knew about autism, but then I got to know a parent whose child is severely autistic. It is a full time job and extremely challenging and exhausting to parent this child, although she never complained. Understanding the daily challenges is quite eye opening. People with autism, and their caretakers, need our support and understanding!
The specrum of autism is eye opening . I worked in special needs classroom for many years and far enough back to remember when it was finally diagnosed. This is a great post, I love that commercial it airs here.