Light it Up Blue! It’s Autism Awareness Day!

Join us in celebrating a very special day!  Light it up Blue is an event hosted by Autism Speaks, an organization that is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

I am so lucky to work with and learn from parents and grandparents that are advocates for their children.  These parents are supportive, loving and determined detectives as they search for the best way to support their amazing kids.

Did you know …

• Autism now affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the U.S.
• Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
• Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation

• Total 2012 NIH budget: $30.86 billion
• Of this, only $169 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.55% of total NIH funding.

BIG NEWS:  For this special day, there are a number of apps that have been very beneficial for children with communication challenges and those with autism.  Click on this link as many of their apps are 50% off!  http://atmac.org/waad-2015

We will be hosting a small lemonade stand this Saturday at 3:30 pm.  All donations will be sent to Autism Speaks!

Best,

Vanessa