Vintage Oaks and Community Unite For Autism Day

Businesses and the Novato community came together Tuesday for “Light It Up Blue,” an event designed to generate awareness about autism. Nicole Hitchcock, who owns the NH2 Salon in the Vintage Oaks Center, spearheaded the campaign. The shopping center hosted the event.

Hitchcock’s son, Ramsey, now eight years old, was diagnosed with autism when he was two.

“This year I am on a quest,” Hitchcock said. “We need to show support for the families and parents who are raising kids on the autism spectrum.”

Autism Speaks, an international nonprofit agency, founded the “Light It Up Blue” campaign a few years ago, successfully engaging the United Nations to join the cause. Last year the Empire State Building was lit up in blue lights.

Recent studies have shown that autism afflicts more children than diabetes, cancer and AIDS combined and that one in 50 kids fit somewhere on the autism spectrum.

“Last night was awesome,” Hitchcock reported the following day. “Our community came together to embrace our autistic population. Families not affected by autism came to learn how to educate their children. Autistic adults came to be recognized. Men and women who have dedicated their lives to serve people on the spectrum were in attendance.”

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