Rockefeller Center (NYC), Niagara Falls (Canada), Cairo Tower (Egypt), The Paris Stock Exchange (France), The Kingdom Tower (Saudi Arabia), Christ The Redeemer Statue (Brazil), Sydney Opera House (Australia), Canton Tower (China), and The Empire State Building (United States of America)...What do these landmarks have in common??? They are all glowing in a shade of blue right this very minute. A blue light illuminates each of these, and many more monuments around the globe today to demonstrate acknowledgement of the worldwide epidemic that is, AUTISM.
The following information is taken from the Autism Speaks, Light It Up Blue website.
About World Autism Awareness Day
In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), with the goal of bringing the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions.
World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health concern. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism crisis and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of people with autism, and features community events around the world where individuals with autism and their families are warmly welcomed and embraced.
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders - autism spectrum disorders - caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 1000 percent increase in the past 40 years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
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