The month of April is Autism Awareness Month, and April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. Here at Speakprose, we’re going to be lighting it up blue this month to help raise awareness for autism, which affects around 1% of the world’s population today.
Back in 2007, April 2nd was declared World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations. Just a few years later, Autism Speaks initiated the Light It Up Blue idea to shed light on autism by shining blue lights, wearing blue, or turning social media profiles blue. In fact, landmarks and buildings around the world will light up in blue to help raise autism awareness. In the past, Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera House, and the White House have all gone blue.
The color blue is all about shedding light. Going blue for Autism Awareness Month helps shed light on the millions of people living with autism. It encourages politicians to enact legislation that can help individuals with autism and their families. Lighting it up blue or wearing blue helps support research, and it offers a great way to meet other people in your community or on social media who are going blue, too.
Most importantly, going blue is a powerful statement to people in the autism community that they are not alone. It’s very common for people with autism or the parents of children with autism to feel very lonely and isolated. When everyone comes together and shows their support by lighting it up blue, it offers community, hope, and inspiration to people personally affected by autism.
At Speakprose, we’ll be going blue all month across our social media channels. It’s all about spreading awareness and starting conversations, so we can educate the world about autism and make the community a better place.
We hope that you’ll join us this month and Light It Up Blue to show your support and help spread awareness. Share our posts. Turn your own social media profile blue. Or join in by wearing blue. Together, we can make a difference.