AUTISM AWARENESS HOPES TO TURN OSKALOOSA BLUE
Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt signs a proclamation encouraging all citizens to support Autism Awareness Day. Seen here with Jennifer Norgaila, her son Finley Norgaila, Judi Braaksma, Jill Schmidt, Dean Braaksma, Stacie Weber and Benjamin. They are also helping to promote Light It Up Blue Oskaloosa. Autism Speaks will "LIGHT IT UP BLUE" on April 1 and 2, 2011 to shine a light on autism. It's easy to Light It Up Blue — simply change out your white light bulbs to blue.
I remember the first time that I listened to an Autism Speaks advertisement on the radio. I had been researching autism due to my nonverbal son. His professional entourage, at this point, were cautiously using terms such as language delayed and then developmentally delayed. However, I was driving home from work that night hearing the statistics (1 in 150 children were diagnosed with autism at that time) and making mental tic marks next to the early warning signs that Benjamin had (which were most of them) when, a feeling settled inside of me that this new word “autism” was going to become part of my every day life. In that moment of realization, the narrator for that Autism Speaks commercial became my new best friend. It was comforting to know that I was not alone, and more importantly, nor was my son. One of the world’s largest autism advocacy groups was with me in my car in rural Iowa, somewhere between Eddyville and Oskaloosa. As tears spilled down my cheeks, I understood how important statistics are when your child is the one in 150.
Since that time, the Center for Disease Control has released new numbers stating that it is closer to 1 in 110 children that are diagnosed with autism; an even slimmer 1 in 70 for boys. Autism is a complicated spectrum of neurological disorders that typically present themselves in two common ways: impaired communication and impaired social skills. A person with high functioning autism may just seem socially awkward and need a few curriculum modifications at school in order to succeed. A person further down on the spectrum may need several kinds of intensive therapies, a one on one associate at school, and support through a local service agency in order to learn how to function in everyday social situations.
April is autism awareness month. World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, in which prominent buildings all over the world will change their outdoor lighting to blue to show their support. Thus our “Light It Up Blue” campaign. We ask you to wear blue clothing, put a blue light bulb in your porch light, string up your blue Christmas lights that are collecting dust in your attic, or borrow your Aunt Tillie’s favorite blue wig- whatever it is that you can do to Light Up Oskaloosa Blue. Until this time there has not been a registered “Light It Up Blue” event within a hundred miles of Oskaloosa. For the many individuals whose lives have been affected by autism, right here in our own back yard, we have decided to change that. Thanks to Mayor David Krutzfeldt’s timely proclamation, Oskaloosa is proud to be an official participant.
One final request from a mother who has learned a lot about autism since that Autism Speaks radio announcement in 2008 – please remember that autism awareness is not just an event or a month on the calendar. Autism does not always have a face that you can easily recognize. It may be the fidgety noisy child at story time, the eccentric young woman next to you in the grocery store, the toddler melting down in the Wal-Mart check out line, or the brilliant engineer at work who refuses to shake your hand. We all need a place to grow. The more socially connected these individuals and families can become in their community, the greater the opportunities will be to overcome their disabilities. Your supportive acceptance can truly improve someone’s quality of life. Let’s take our first step together and Light Up Oskaloosa Blue on April 2nd.
In Sincere Gratitude,
Stacie Weber
