Woburn To Light It Up Blue for Autism Monday

Aiden Herlihy will be wearing blue on Monday when he goes to class at the Hurld School. And he's hoping that you will be too.

Aiden, 6, was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a disorder within the Autism spectrum. And on Monday, he and others will be wearing blue to raise Autism awareness across the world as part of the Light It Up Blue campaign.

"I hold things like these dear to my heart because of my six-year-old son Aiden," said Jennifer Herlihy. "We may not all be aware of how we can help and it doesn't always involve money. Just someone showing that they understand makes a world of difference sometimes."

Autism Speaks has coordinated World Autism Awareness Day for three years, encouraging people to use the color blue in any way on April 2 to raise awareness of the disorder.

For Jennifer, the day holds a more personal meaning.

"I just want people to stop and think, every time they see a child and pass judgment, they have no idea what it is like to be him," she said.

Although Aiden is young, Jennifer said he is aware that he is "different."

"Although he knows that he may be a little different, he is proud of who he is," she said.

Jennifer said she read a piece by author Trisha Van Berkel that discussed Autistic "beings" having a "pure heart and being very sensitive." In the piece, Jennifer said, Van Berkel wrote that children affected by Autism can "bloom" if they are not forced to be normal.

"When I read this I think of Aiden," said Jennifer. "And I cry, not because I am sad, but because I feel lucky to be his mom.

"Events like Light It Up Blue bring hope to me that the more people that are aware of [Autism and other disorders] and the cause, then the more understanding there will be in the world," she added.  

In addition to wearing blue on Monday, the Autism Speaks' Light It Up Blue campaign urges people to use blue lights on their outdoor lamps or in other ways.

Home Depot is selling lightbulbs to help with this campaign, said Meghan Chapman, a member of the Woburn Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

Several world-famous landmarks will also be blue on Monday, including the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center in New York City, the Sydney Opera House in Australia and Niagara Falls in Canada.