April 2nd, 2013 kicks off Autism Awareness Month with 'Light It Up Blue', the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day. Light It Up Blue can be celebrated in many ways and is a global initiative. Many places are switching their lights over to blue tomorrow evening in support, and leaving them lit for the month. This is something that we can do in our own homes. Light bulbs, lanterns and anything illuminating your home can be changed over to blue to show your support. Home Depot and Autism Speaks have teamed up, selling a blue bulb for $1.99. Part of the proceeds go to Autism Speaks to fund research and family services.
Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 88 American children as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence over the last 40 years. An estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. By comparison, this is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined.
For more information please visit www.autismspeaks.org. And good for you Home Depot! What a wonderful thing to support!
