April 1 marks the beginning of Autism Awareness Month, a campaign started in 1970 to educate the public on this complex condition and developmental disability.  More so, it is an opportunity to shed light on the 3 million individuals autism affects in the United States, some of the challenges they face and ways to support autism research.  

In addition, April 2, 2015 is World Autism Awareness Day and marked by a global awareness campaign called Light It Up Blue.  Landmarks around the world including the Empire State Building in New York, the Nelson Mandela Bridge in South Africa and the Shanghai World Financial Center in China, among others, will be illuminated in blue to show support for the cause.

How You Can Get Involved and Make a Difference

Education is key to understanding the condition and the challenges that those affected with autism face.

Things you can do to get involved in locally and make a difference are:

• Attend the 10^th Annual Chili Cookoff for Autism on Wednesday, April 22 from 6 – 9:30 at the Holiday Inn on Rockside.  Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door with all proceeds to help Greater Cleveland families with autism.
• Attend the 28^th Annual Child & Family Awareness Expo at Summit Mall on Saturday, April 11 from 10 am – 5 pm
• Sign up for the Autism 5k & Walk: Lace It, Race It, Face It on June 20, 2015 at Lock 3 in Akron, Ohio 
• Register to walk and raise funds for Walk Now for Autism Speaks
  • 8/23 Cleveland Walk
  • 10/11 Columbus
  • 5/16 Cincinnati
  • 10/4 Stark County
  • Make a donation to Autism Speaks or Autism Society of Greater Akron

In support of World Autism Awareness Day and its Light It Up Blue campaign on April 2, you can:

• Glow blue by changing your outdoor or indoor white bulbs to blue or tint windows with blue gel sheets.

• Wear blue by donning your favorite blue top, scarf or accessories

• Post blue by
  • Personalize your LIUB Selfie Sign to tell us where you Light It Up Blue
  • Post your photos on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, or Flickr with the hashtag #LIUB to be a part of the global autism awareness movement
  • Turn your website blue with our Site It Up Blue kit or add the Light It Up Blue logo with a link to autismspeaks.org/liub
  • Turn your Facebook or Twitter profile picture blue
  • Tweet autism facts with the hashtag #LIUB

So this April, raise awareness, get involved and LIGHT IT UP BLUE for Autism Awareness Month! Post your Light it Up Blue photos on our Facebook page.