Light It Up Blue

Light It Up Blue, annually observed on April 2, is dedicated to raising awareness of autism.[1] The initiative is generally associated with controversial movement Autism Speaks.[2] It is intended to raise international awareness of autism in support of both World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month in the United States.[3]

History

Iconic landmarks around the globe – including the Empire State Building in New York City and Willis Tower in Chicago along with the CN Tower in Toronto – as well as airports, bridges, museums, concert halls, restaurants, hospitals,[4] and retail stores, are among more than 100 structures in over 16 U.S. cities and nine countries around the world lit up in bright blue on the evening of April 1, 2010 – the first night of Autism Awareness Month in the United States and the eve of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD).[5]

On April 2, 2013 the Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium with Nieuwerck was lighted up blue
On April 2, 2015 Voronezh City Hall, Russia was lighted up blue

On April 2, 2010, the third annual World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) where Autism Speaks volunteers and supporters opened the day by ringing the NYSE opening bell.[6]

In 2011, despite efforts by Autism Speaks, the White House said it would not light up blue in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Light It Up Blue was not created or owned by Autism speaks, although they have driven awareness of the initiative across the US.".
  2. ↑ "Light It Up Blue Campaign to Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, and what is also Autism Awareness Month in the United States." (Press release). Autism Speaks. 2010-03-17.
  3. ↑ Autism awareness speaks to challenged families. Today Show. 2010-04-02.
  4. ↑ "UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN LIGHT IT UP BLUE FOR WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY". University of Massachusetts Medical School. 2010-04-02.
  5. ↑ "Autism Speaks Launches Light It Up Blue Campaign to Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, Autism Awareness Month in the United States. The project was initiated by, a young man from New York in 2008. Motivated by his personal experience with lack of autism awareness, he dreamed, planned, and outlined his ideas in his application to the Empire State Building. He asked the Empire State Building to light blue for autism in 2008. Blue was chosen for all three tiers of the building as a symbol of hope. He worked for support from Autism Speaks on 2008, and 2009. The dream became a reality, and in 2011 the young man lit up the Empire State Building himself. Since then, countless landmarks and organizations worldwide have joined the movement later named Light it Up Blue by Autism Speaks." (Press release). Autism Speaks. 2010-03-17.
  6. ↑ Autism Speaks Launches the Light It Up Blue Campaign. CNBC. 2010-04-01.
  7. ↑ "White House Says No To Autism Speaks Effort". Disability Scoop. 2010-03-04.
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