April is Autism Awareness Month – Light it Up Blue

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Autism Awareness Month 2013

Source: autismsciencefoundation.org

If you’ve seen a blue puzzle piece logo on Facebook or a post about the Empire State Building going blue, you’ve probably heard the slogan, “Light it Up Blue.” This isn’t just a friendly decoration to ring in spring. Light it Up Blue is the call to action for organizations and individuals around the world to get involved in World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd. Autism is a developmental disorder which interferes with social, behavioral and communication skills. World Autism Awareness Day began six years ago when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously chose that date as an annual day to “highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead fill and meaningful lives.”

 

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Autism Advocacy: How Temple Grandin Conquered Her Diagnosis

Speech Therapy Techniques
Autism Advocacy - Temple Grandin

Image source: Indyweek.com

Autism advocacy and awareness has received a boost in the U.S. in recent years. There has also been an alarming rise in autism diagnoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 88 children will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by the age of 8. Although we know more about autism than ever before, much still remains a mystery. Many parents would give anything to be able to communicate with their nonverbal children and ask them how they perceive the world around them. This is one of the many reasons why Temple Grandin is such an influential hero in the autism community.

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