World Autism Awareness Day, April 2

Light It Up Blue on April 2

April is National Autism Awareness Month, which will be kicked off today, Tuesday, April 2, with a World Autism Awareness Day. Join Autism Speaks in the fourth annual LIGHT IT UP BLUE campaign to help shine a light on autism in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day. There is a wealth of information on what you can do in your home, school, and community during April. The entire world is going blue to increase awareness about autism. You can help by changing the light bulb in your front porch light to blue during April, turning your website blue, reviewing a children’s book on autism, or watching the award-winning HBO movie “Temple Grandin,” and learning more about the autism spectrum disorders.

According to a report the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated number of U.S. autistic kids have skyrocketed by 78 percent since 2000. Now, one in 88 American kids has autism, according to the new figures. Among boys, it’s one in 54. The big question is “why?” One expert said, “better diagnosis, broader diagnosis, better awareness, and roughly 50 percent of ‘We don’t know’.” Another advocate said, “we have an epidemic of autism in the United States.”

This is a unique global opportunity to help raise awareness about the growing public health concern that is autism. Iconic landmarks around the world will Light It Up Blue to show their support today. Among the 2,000 buildings going blue last year were the: NY Stock Exchange, Empire State Building, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Niagara Falls, Al Anoud Tower in Saudi Arabia, Cairo Tower in Egypt, Great Buddha at Hyogo in Japan, CN Tower in Canada and Sydney Opera House in Australia.

The month will be filled with activities for families and friends, so make sure you check out Autsim Speaks. Their website has a wealth of information, tool kits for newly diagnosed children, facts, treatment information, research and resources on the Autism Spectrum. I will be reviewing some new books on autism in April and all year-long. I hope you will join me! Light it up Blue today!

Since April 2011, I have reviewed 19 excellent books in the Autism Spectrum. You can click on Autism Spectrum and Asperger’s Syndrome in the “Topics” side bar to the right of my blog to find all the reviewed books. The titles include Picture Books (PB), Middle Grade (MG), Young Adult (YA) and books for Parents. Titles include:

I’m Here, Peter H. Reynolds (PB)

Wings of Epoh, Gerda Weissmann Klein (PB)

Understanding Sam and Asperger’s Syndrome, Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter, MA, CCC-SLP

My Brother Charlie, Holly and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, (PB)

In Jesse’s Shoes, Beverly Lewis (PB)

Ellie Bean: The Drama Queen, Jennie Harding (PB)

The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Elizabeth Verdick and Elizabeth Reeve, M.D. (MG/YA)

How to Talk to an Autistic Kid, Daniel Stefanski (MG)

Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism and Love from His Extraordinary Son, Tom Fields-Meyer (Parent)

Mocking Bird, Katherine Erskine (MG)

Rules, Cynthia Lord (MG)

Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes, Jennifer Elder (MG)

Wild Orchid, Waiting for No One , and White Bicycle, Beverley Brenna (YA) Trilogy

Temple Grandin: How The Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World, Sy Montgomery, (MG/YA/Adult

I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism, Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virgina Breen (YA/Adult)

Marcelo in the Real World, Francisco X. Stork (YA)

Carly’s Voice: Breaking Through Autism, Arthur and Carly Fleischmann (YA/Adult)

Not My Boy, Rodney Peete (Parent)

A Friend Like Henry, Nuala Gardner (Parent)

International Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2012

Light It Up Blue on April 2

April is National Autism Awareness Month, which will be kicked off today, Monday, April 2, with an International Autism Awareness Day. Join Autism Speaks in the third annual “Light It Up Blue” day to help shine a light on autism. The entire world is going blue to increase awareness about autism. You can help by changing the light bulb in your front porch light to blue, turning your website blue, reviewing a children’s book on autism, or watching a library copy of the award-winning HBO movie “Temple Grandin,” and learning more about the autism spectrum.

According to a report released March 29 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated number of U.S. autistic kids have skyrocketed by 78 percent since 2000. Now, one in 88 American kids has autism, according to the new figures. Among boys, it’s one in 54. The big question is “why?” One expert said, “better diagnosis, broader diagnosis, better awareness, and roughly 50 percent of ‘We don’t know’.” Another advocate said, “we have an epidemic of autism in the United States.”

Since April 2011, I have reviewed 13 books in the Autism Spectrum. You can click on Autism Spectrum and Asperger’s Syndrome in the “Topics” side bar to the right of my blog to find all the reviewed books. The titles include Picture Books (PB), Middle Grade (MG), Young Adult (YA) and books for Parents. Titles include:

I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism, Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virgina Breen (YA/Adult)
How to Talk to an Autistic Kid, Daniel Stefanski (MG)
Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism and Love from His Extraordinary Son, Tom Fields-Meyer (Parent)
I’m Here, Peter Reynolds (PB)
Mocking Bird, Katherine Erskine (MG)
Wild Orchid, Beverley Brenna (YA)
Waiting for No One , Beverley Brenna (YA) (second book in a trilogy)
Rules, Cynthia Lord (MG)
A Friend Like Henry, Nuala Gardner (Parent)
Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes, Jennifer Elder (MG)
Marcelo in the Real World, Francisco X. Stork (YA)
Not My Boy, Rodney Peete (Parent)
My Brother Charlie, Holly and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, (PB)

Carly’s Voice – Changing the Voice of Autism

What a fascinating month to share interesting stories of the heroes of autism and the daunting work that goes into helping each child transform his/her life. Although I am not reviewing a book in this blog, I want to share with you a remarkable story of a teenager.

According to the organization Autism Speaks, 1 in 110 children are diagnosed within the autism spectrum, making it the more common than childhood cancer, diabetes and HIV. One in 70 children diagnosed are boys. In the U.S. alone, there are 1.5 million people, and tens of millions worldwide. Thus, the reason I am going to feature a remarkable teenaged girl who has autism — Carly Fleischmann. Carly, a twin, was diagnosed with autism at age three. She has never spoken and she spent her life feeling trapped in her body. One day she surprised her family and typed out three simple words on the keyboard — help hurt tooth. She was sick and asking for help. Learning to type on the keyboard unlocked her world. The rest is history.

Carly was featured on a segment about inspirational teens, on CBS The Talk, April 15, with Holly Robinson Peete. She has been featured on 20/20, The Today Show, ABC and the Larry King Show. I hope you enjoy this remarkable video.

She has a website, Carly’s Voice – Changing the Voice of Autism at and a Facebook following with over 51,000 fans. She is also wrote a novel of her life, which I found quite compelling. She vividly describes in great detail what it is like to live in her body, which some times burns and feels like ants crawling on her skin. “I am autistic, but it doesn’t define me,” says Carly. “There are times when I wanted to give up, but I can’t give up hope.”

In the next decade, 500,000 children with autism will reach adulthood and it will become even more important that they are prepared for life, and society is there to embrace their transition. Children within the autism spectrum are very intelligent and have unique talents in the fields of art, music, science, computers, and math.

On Friday, April 22, at 2 p.m., The Talk will air the last of its series on autism. They will focus on the autistic children transitioning to adulthood. Autism Speaks has a special “Transition Tool Kit” on its website.