Victory Kids lights it up blue

Victory Kids Early Intervention Centre for Children with Special Social and Educational Needs in Port Elizabeth  has turned blue ahead of World Autism Awareness month. The educational centre in Mowbray Street, Newton Park, has not only wrapped the trees outside the church it works from in blue bands but also pasted on jigsaw puzzle pieces, flagging the centre as an autism resource.

World Autism Awareness Day is on Wednesday, 2 April, 2014.

Light It Up Blue campaign ahead

Light It Up Blue (Liub) is a global campaign that includes landmarks, communities, businesses and individuals to light up the world in blue and mark April 2, World Autism Day.

Autism South Africa is encouraging autism advocates to mark the day here in this country as well with a few suggestions: Participate “virtually” and take photographs with a blue frame or theme and share on social networks; wrap a tree trunk in blue; change your indoor or outdoor light to blue for the month; bake blue cookies or cup-cakes; serve bubblegum blue milkshakes; wear blue to school or work on April 2 from top to toe.

ASA is selling armbands with blue LED lights, and also will be hosting a cycle ride on March 28, wearing blue. The Nelson Mandela Bridge will be lit up blue on April 2 to support autism.

Keep an eye on Facebook and other social media that day for more blue light news, and see AEC’s next post on what St Bart’s in Port Elizabeth is doing.

Light it up blue

South Africa is joining the international movement to light up buildings in blue on World Autism Day on Monday, April 2, to shed light on a mental disability that is increasing in prevalence.

Cape Town’s Table Mountain will be lit up in blue from April 1 to 4 and in Port Elizabeth, Autism Eastern Cape (AEC) is asking home and business owners to contact it to light up their properties.

AEC can supply participants with blue cellophane paper filters, free of charge, on request. That is, firms need not go to the expense of buying coloured bulbs as AEC can deliver blue filters to place over existing bulbs (depending on size and format).

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are lifelong developmental disabilities, and the US Center for Disease Control now estimates that one in every 150 children born, will have disabilities ranging from mild to severe. These disabilities include impairments in social skills and verbal and non-verbal communication, often accompanied by repetitive or unusual behaviours.

To highlight its prevalence, in 2010 Autism Speaks (US) launched its “Light it up in Blue” campaign, an initiative intended to raise awareness about autism around the world and to show support for the annual World Autism Awareness Day held on April 2.

In 2011, more than 2000 iconic buildings and landmarks in over 48 countries on six continents turned their lights blue in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day.

 In 2012, AEC is asking the Port Elizabeth community to become part of this initiative by:

* Changing the bulbs in prominent internal lights to blue for the evening of April 2;

* Using blue bulbs or filters on external lighting for 2 April 2;

* Wearing blue clothing on April 2 and encouraging colleagues, family and friends to do the same; and

* Taking fun “Light It Up In Blue” photographs and sending them to Autism Eastern Cape, which will post a selection of these on our Facebook page and website, acknowledging each company which gives support.

Interested firms or individuals who are able to help spread awareness in this way are invited to contact AEC on (041)581-0650 or reply by return of e-mail to: info@autismec.org AEC’s website: www.autismec.com