April 2nd is one of the best days of the year, and no, it’s not because April Fool’s day is finally over. April 2nd is the best day of the year because it’s a day that the whole world sets aside to recognize Autism. April 2nd, 2015 will be the 8th annual World Autism Awareness day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in May of 2014 approximately, 1 in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds) in multiple communities in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Many of us love someone very much who lives each day with autism; we go to school together, we eat lunch together, we play on sports teams together, we live, learn and love together. Last year over 300 colleges and universities participated in the observation of World Autism Awareness Day by lighting up blue, wearing blue, putting blue lights on the quad or sending up blue lanterns. Even buildings like the Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower, The London Eye, and The Sydney Opera House light up blue for this special day. There are hundreds of ways that you can #LIUB or “Light it up Blue” on your campus this year:
1. Wear a blue shirt
2. Drink your coffee out of a blue mug
3. Rock a blue bowtie
4. Slip into some blue jeans
5. Wear a blue hat
6. Tweet “#WorldAutismAwarenessDay” and “#LIUB”
7. Wear a blue puzzle piece
8. Instagram any blue lights you see! #LIUB
9. Spread the word
10. Take a Selfie and post it with the #LIUB
Join the trend and say cheese, light it up blue and help support us in World Autism Awareness Day!