April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day where 7,000 landmarks and buildings in 90 countries, 750 cities and 7 continents “Light It Up Blue” to bring awareness to Autism. Check out how North Delaware is creating Autism awareness and providing support for those affected by Autism throughout the month of April, National Autism Month.

April 2

World Autism Awareness Day

The seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2014. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. How will you celebrate? To share your events, photos and Autism Kindness Acts (#AKA) go to Autismspeaks.org/LIUB or click on the links on this page. And if you’re on Twitter, use #LIUB to share your experience helping light the world up blue this April.

University of Delaware Lights it Up Blue

To spread awareness, Autism Speaks has established Light It Up Blue Day. Look for buildings around Delaware’s campus to be lit up, including the Alpha Xi Delta (AXiD) House on West Main Street and several academic buildings. Using the Light It Up Blue mobile app, you can turn your own buildings blue and share with friends on social media.

AXiD will also be in the Trabant University Center handing out Autism Speaks keychains, as well as co-hosting a philanthropy event with Alpha Phi, “Are You Smarter Than a Frat Star?” in the Trabant Multipurpose Rooms from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

April 3

Cucina di Napoli  Raises Money and Awareness

Cucina di Napoli on Main Street is donating 10 percent of the profits made all day toward Autism Speaks. Everyone is encouraged to come in, mention Alpha Xi Delta/Autism Speaks, and enjoy a delicious meal going toward a great cause.  For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

April 4

The Use of Therapy Dogs

The College of Education and Human Development and the College of  Health Sciences are co-sponsoring a colloquium from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at 104 Gore Hall. Iva Obrusnikova, associate professor of behavioral health and nutrition at UD, will present on “using therapy dogs to increase physical activity and engagement levels in children with autism spectrum disorders.”  For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

 April 7

5K Walk/Run for Autism Speaks

From noon-2:30 p.m. at the Christiana Commons on the Laird Campus, AXiD will hold its annual 5K walk/run for Autism Speaks.  For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

April 8

“United States of Autism”

Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is hosting a viewing of The United States of Autism at 5 p.m. in Multipurpose Rooms A and B of the Trabant University Center. This documentary features Richard Everts’ 11,000-mile, 40-day journey across America to visit 20 families and individuals — from Mormon to Muslim and Hispanic to Chinese — living with autism. Cost is $3 for students with valid ID, $8 for others, with a portion of proceeds going to PUSH America and the Tommy Foundation.  For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

 April 12

Walk for Autism

The Wilmington Walk for Autism will be held at Fox Point State Park.  Walker check in starts at 9am and the walk starts at 11am.  For more information, visit Autism Delaware.

April 24

Social Skills for the Home

The Delaware Department of Education and the Positive Behavior Support Project at UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies will host a workshop – Social Skills for Home. For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

April 26

IAM ART’s Autism Awareness Benefit for Autism Delaware

Performing arts, fashion show and art exhibit held at Junior Achievement of Delaware.  For more information, visit IAM Art.

April 29

Lunchtime Learning Session

The Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) is hosting a Lunchtime Learning session that will present findings from focus groups and the statewide needs assessment survey as well as share preliminary recommendations from the Delaware Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The Lunchtime Learning session, “A Blueprint for Collective Action: The Delaware Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders,” will be held from noon-1 p.m.at 461 Wyoming Road, Newark. Attendance is free, but registration is required.  For more information, visit  University of Delaware.

More on Autism in Delaware and Nationally taken from Autism Delaware web-site.

Delaware is a small state, but we are not immune to the global challenges of autism.

We estimate that there are about 1,500 individuals with autism in Delaware – a conservative figure based on public reporting from state agencies. Unfortunately it is impossible for us to provide an exact figure on the number of people who have autism in Delaware because not all individuals affected by autism – whether children or adults –utilize public systems so that they can be accurately tracked.

Here are some numbers to consider:

1991 – Delaware Department of Education (DOE) reported 152 public school students with autism*

2012 – DOE reported 1,208 public school students with autism

This represents a 695% increase over 21 years.

Nationally, autism has increased by about 600% over the past 20 years

The Department of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) reports (from information received March 2012) 565 individual with autism registered for services.

•  269 were adults with autism
• 218 were children with autism
• 32 were adults with Asperger’s Syndrome
• 46 were children with Asperger’s Syndrome

The Centers for Disease Control now estimate that autism occurs in 1 in every 88 children under 8 in the U.S.

* Note that the Department of Education (DOE) can only report on those children in the public school system who have an educational classification of autism.