College of Education to 'Light It Up Blue' for Autism Awareness

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2014) — The University of Kentucky Student Council for Exception Children (SCEC), part of the UK College of Education, will host "Light it up Blue," an event for autism awareness, 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 at the UK Taylor Education Building.

Several iconic landmarks around the globe – including the Empire State Building in New York City and the Opera House in Sydney, Australia – as well as universities, museums, concert halls, restaurants, hospitals, and retail stores around the world, light up in bright blue during the evening of April 2 to honor the first night of Autism Awareness Month.  

Last year, UK students decided to light up Memorial Hall. It was the first reported building in the state of Kentucky to participate in "Light it up Blue." This year, students have decided to light up the Taylor Education Building because it is the building where they are learning to be future teachers of exceptional children.

The evening will begin with a resource fair and silent auction from 7– 8 p.m. There will be a brief ceremony beginning at dusk, with a reception to follow.

Other fundraisers and activities in the area for the month of April include:

• Orange Leaf in Palomar, Romany, and Brighton (Hamburg) is sponsoring an event on April 3. By mentioning "Light it up Blue," Orange Leaf will donate 20% of your order to SCEC/Autism Speaks.
   
• Be on the look out for a sensory friendly film in the Lexington area for children with autism and their families.

How to get involved:

• You can purchase puzzle piece pins and blue awareness bracelets, which will be sold at the UK event on April 2.
   
• If you can’t make it on April 2, you can purchase a special blue light bulb in honor of World Autism Awareness Day from Home Depot and light up your home or office. Half of the proceeds will go to Autism Speaks.
   
• You can join a local chapter of the Autism Society of the Bluegrass, if you are a parent or family member of a person with autism or get involved with SCEC if you are a UK student interested in making sure that individuals with disabilities flourish in their communities.
   
• You can donate directly to SCEC, Autism Speaks, Autism Society of America, or other organizations that promote awareness for individuals on the spectrum.
   
• Ask about University of Kentucky’s College of Education autism graduate certificate.

About UK SCEC

SCEC at UK is a professional development and service organization for students at any level or pursuing any degree program. The purposes of the organization include: being advocates for children with disabilities, advancing the professional development of its members and providing charitable and other services to persons with disabilities. SCEC is a student chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, an international organization.

About Autism Spectrum Disorders

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders as 1 in 66 for children aged 6-17, which is significantly higher than was previously estimated.  According to the Autism Society of America, "autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others." Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a 'spectrum disorder' that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today." Boys are five times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.

For more information about this week's event, contact Amy Spriggs at amy.spriggs@uky.edu or Sara Flanagan at sara.flanagen@uky.edu