April Is Autism Awareness Month!

Autism Speaks: "Light It Up Blue" Pledge Page

An open letter received via email from the President of Autism Speaks...

Dear Reader:

The community we've built together has a powerful voice and the annual "Light It Up Blue" event is our chance to use it. Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, is the host of this world-wide event and their aim is to light the world blue city by city and town by town by taking action to raise awareness about autism in communities.

On the evenings of April 1st and 2nd of this year, prominent buildings around the world, including the Empire State Building in New York City and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, will turn their lights blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, April 2nd. You've helped us provide much needed support and advocacy for individuals with autism and their families. Will you now help us to light up the world for them?

Click on the image or text link underneath to visit the Autism Speaks "Light It Up Blue" page and sign the pledge to raise autism awareness. The small actions we take, like wearing blue clothing, featuring the "Light It Up Blue" logo on our Facebook profiles, and writing blog posts about how we're participating in "Light It Up Blue" can add up to a united movement. And, our movement can hit every town across America this year. Can you help us make our mark? Other things you can do to "Light It Up Blue" are:

* Wear your Autism Speaks puzzle piece pin every day throughout the month of April and tell people about autism, if they ask about it.

* Change your Facebook profile picture to the "Light It Up Blue" logo and tag at least 10 of your friends.

* Post on your blog about how you are lighting it up blue to raise autism awareness.

* Add the "Light It Up Blue" logo to your email signature and/or type your emails in blue.

* Bake puzzle-piece shaped cookies, frost them with blue icing, and take them to your school, work, or place of worship.

* On April 2nd wear blue clothing and ask your family, friends, and co-workers to wear blue too.

Thank you for everything you do to help us and each other.

Sincerely,

Mark Roithmayr
President, Autism Speaks