The eighth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2015. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. How will you celebrate? Autism Speaks developed a fun, engaging new way you can Light It Up Blue this month (Autism Awareness Month) with their LIUB Selfie Signs! On April 2nd and throughout the month they ask that you personalize your sign to tell them where you are going blue! Once you take your selfie with your sign make sure to post your photos on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and Flickr with the hashtag #LIUB to be a part of the global autism awareness movement and #LIUBDE to be a part of the local movement!  At the end of the month we’ll compile those photos and share them with the North Delaware community!

Download your LIUB Selfie Sign to get started TODAY here

ABOUT AUTISM

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism spectrum disorders have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in every 68 births. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2014).

Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect one’s chance of having autism. Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resistance to changes in routines. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

Over one half million people in the U.S. today have autism or some form of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS). Its prevalence rate makes autism one of the most common developmental disabilities. Yet most of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism. The words “autism spectrum” refer to the fact that autism can cause profound difficulties in living an independent life, or may only cause some social difficulties. The actual symptoms of autism that each individual expresses may be completely different and diagnoses from “autism” to “Asperger’s syndrome”, and everything in between, are all part of the “autism spectrum”.