We are okay with being weird according to everyone elses standards. We celebrate our childs differences & her quirky-ness. We advocate diversity & acceptance versus dwelling on differences. We try to empower her. We coddle her sensitivity and compassion for seemingly un-important things...we hope she holds this in her heart even as an adult. We do not think she needs "fixing" we are proud to call Kaia Allison our daughter.
Off the soap box...
One fun way to participate and show your support is by lighting it up blue...change your lightbulbs to blue as a show of support. It's like giving a great big hug to all of those touched by Autism ; ) Get your blue bulbs at Home Depot for $1.65!!!
Locally, here are some Autism related events you can participate in!
April 1st “Light it Up Blue” Campaign, Panera Bread Autism Fundraiser, Buy a Smoothie and proceeds go to Autism Speaks, and change your porch light to blue…
April 2nd-WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY & Sensory Sensitive Movie “HOP” at Fiesta AMC in Fayetteville 10:00am
April 8th – Autism Support Mtg. 6-7:30 Nancy Kay, Local Lifecoach/Counselor speaking about Stress Relief for the Families.
April 15th/15 - Crop for a Cause Scrapbooking Fundraiser Event, by 2 Katie Designs. Visit http://www.2katiedesigns.com/ for more information.
May 7th- THE EVENT!!! 2nd ANNUAL AUTISM WALK 6:00am setup-12:00pm clean up!!
MORE INFOR ABOUT LIGHT IT UP BLUE:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/press/world_autism_awareness_day_light_it_up_blue.php
Autism Speaks Kicks off World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month Celebration with its Light It Up Blue Campaign
Over 500 Iconic Buildings and Landmarks Around the World will Shine a Bright Blue Light on Autism
Autism Speaks Launches New PSA Starring 5th Graders from Pelham, N.Y. and Introduces a FREE Light It Up Blue App Available through the iTunes Store NEW YORK, N.Y. (March, 24 2011) – Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced its 2nd annual Light It Up Blue (LIUB) campaign – a unique global initiative to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day and help raise funds and awareness of autism as a growing public health crisis.
LIUB will begin on the evening of April 1 when more than 500 structures in over 120 U.S. cities and 25 countries will join Autism Speaks to shine a bright light on autism. Iconic landmarks around the world – including the Empire State Building and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City, the Willis Tower in Chicago, Universal Studios in Hollywood and Orlando, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, along with the Niagara Falls and CN Tower in Canada, Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil and the Sydney Opera House in Australia – as well as airports, bridges, museums, concert halls, schools/universities, restaurants, and retail stores, will light up in bright blue to help kick off Autism Awareness Month and celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.
The public can actively participate in LIUB by supporting the campaign virtually with the launch of a free Light It Up Blue iPhone App and new Build a Blue Website. The LIUB app is available at the iTunes Store and allows users to become part of this global initiative by turning their own pictures blue with a choice of five different style frames. Americans are encouraged to upload the photos to the live stream on LightItUpBlue.org. In an effort to help raise much needed funds for research, participants can also Build a Blue Website and ask friends and family to support Autism Speaks by making a donation to their personal page.
In addition, Autism Speaks will launch a new 30 second PSA starring 5th graders from Pelham, N.Y., singing an original song composed by one of their classmates for LIUB. The PSA is set to air starting March 21 on broadcast and cable television and SiriusXM satellite radio and is live on AutismSpeaks.org. As part of its ongoing, award-winning public service ad campaign, to promote autism awareness and encourage participation in the LIUB initiative, Autism Speaks has once again produced web banners that can be downloaded for free.
Individuals interested in finding fun and creative ways to participate in LIUB should visit LightItUpBlue.org. The website provides a number of ideas from hosting autism-themed gatherings to viewings of autism-themed films and TV programs to wearing the Autism Speaks puzzle piece pin or by purchasing specially marked blue light bulbs and LED lanterns sold exclusively at Home Depot to light the exterior of your house. The site also accepts donations to fund autism awareness and research efforts.
“We are very excited to see all these landmark buildings, some for the second year now, illuminated in blue as part of our Light It Up Blue campaign to support World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month,” says Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “We also want to give a special thank you to our corporate and retail partners for their dedication and the generosity they have shown to this cause. Together, we will light the skies like a beacon of hope and ensure that our message of autism awareness will reach millions around the globe.”
The following Autism Speaks corporate and retail partners will Light It Up Blue by raising autism awareness in stores starting on April 1 and 2:
Toys“R”Us
Casey's General Stores
Build-A-Bear
Dollar General
etnies
FelCor Lodging Trust
Gaylord Hotels
LAMAR Digital Media
Lindt
The Home Depot
White Castle
Zappos
Zale Corporation Bergdorf Goodman
Bloomingdale's
Coldwater Creek
Elizabeth Arden
Lord & Taylor
Neiman Marcus
Nest Fragrances
Ralph Lauren
Scentsy
The NBC Experience Store
T.J. Maxx
Walgreens
June 6th NATURALS AUTISM AWARENESS NIGHT 6:00pm. Tickets $8($4 goes to NWA Autism Support Group)
MORE INFOR ABOUT LIGHT IT UP BLUE:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/press/world_autism_awareness_day_light_it_up_blue.php
Autism Speaks Kicks off World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month Celebration with its Light It Up Blue Campaign
Over 500 Iconic Buildings and Landmarks Around the World will Shine a Bright Blue Light on Autism
Autism Speaks Launches New PSA Starring 5th Graders from Pelham, N.Y. and Introduces a FREE Light It Up Blue App Available through the iTunes Store NEW YORK, N.Y. (March, 24 2011) – Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced its 2nd annual Light It Up Blue (LIUB) campaign – a unique global initiative to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day and help raise funds and awareness of autism as a growing public health crisis.
LIUB will begin on the evening of April 1 when more than 500 structures in over 120 U.S. cities and 25 countries will join Autism Speaks to shine a bright light on autism. Iconic landmarks around the world – including the Empire State Building and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City, the Willis Tower in Chicago, Universal Studios in Hollywood and Orlando, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, along with the Niagara Falls and CN Tower in Canada, Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil and the Sydney Opera House in Australia – as well as airports, bridges, museums, concert halls, schools/universities, restaurants, and retail stores, will light up in bright blue to help kick off Autism Awareness Month and celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.
The public can actively participate in LIUB by supporting the campaign virtually with the launch of a free Light It Up Blue iPhone App and new Build a Blue Website. The LIUB app is available at the iTunes Store and allows users to become part of this global initiative by turning their own pictures blue with a choice of five different style frames. Americans are encouraged to upload the photos to the live stream on LightItUpBlue.org. In an effort to help raise much needed funds for research, participants can also Build a Blue Website and ask friends and family to support Autism Speaks by making a donation to their personal page.
In addition, Autism Speaks will launch a new 30 second PSA starring 5th graders from Pelham, N.Y., singing an original song composed by one of their classmates for LIUB. The PSA is set to air starting March 21 on broadcast and cable television and SiriusXM satellite radio and is live on AutismSpeaks.org. As part of its ongoing, award-winning public service ad campaign, to promote autism awareness and encourage participation in the LIUB initiative, Autism Speaks has once again produced web banners that can be downloaded for free.
Individuals interested in finding fun and creative ways to participate in LIUB should visit LightItUpBlue.org. The website provides a number of ideas from hosting autism-themed gatherings to viewings of autism-themed films and TV programs to wearing the Autism Speaks puzzle piece pin or by purchasing specially marked blue light bulbs and LED lanterns sold exclusively at Home Depot to light the exterior of your house. The site also accepts donations to fund autism awareness and research efforts.
“We are very excited to see all these landmark buildings, some for the second year now, illuminated in blue as part of our Light It Up Blue campaign to support World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month,” says Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “We also want to give a special thank you to our corporate and retail partners for their dedication and the generosity they have shown to this cause. Together, we will light the skies like a beacon of hope and ensure that our message of autism awareness will reach millions around the globe.”
The following Autism Speaks corporate and retail partners will Light It Up Blue by raising autism awareness in stores starting on April 1 and 2:
Toys“R”Us
Casey's General Stores
Build-A-Bear
Dollar General
etnies
FelCor Lodging Trust
Gaylord Hotels
LAMAR Digital Media
Lindt
The Home Depot
White Castle
Zappos
Zale Corporation Bergdorf Goodman
Bloomingdale's
Coldwater Creek
Elizabeth Arden
Lord & Taylor
Neiman Marcus
Nest Fragrances
Ralph Lauren
Scentsy
The NBC Experience Store
T.J. Maxx
Walgreens
