Emerson will Light It Up Blue

The Autism Speaks organization's World Autism Awareness Day is April 2. 

Emerson is throwing its full support behind World Autism Awareness Day by “lighting it up blue” on Wednesday, April 2.

The College is participating in the Light It Up Blue campaign by the Autism Speaks organization as it continues to grow its research of autism in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department.

The most visible show of support may be at the Paramount Center’s three-tier video wall that faces Washington Street, which will feature a blue background with the words “Autism Awareness Day” scrolling through the windows from approximately 5:30 pm through midnight, as the display will be most visible at nighttime.

The Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, was lit up blue for a previous World Autism Awareness Day. (Photo from AutismSpeaks.org)

Other hues of blue and messages of support will be displayed on the electronic marquees at the Paramount and Cutler Majestic theaters.

All day at the Little Building, a table will be set up with blue balloons, autism awareness ribbons, and information about Emerson’s academic and peer mentoring programs, as well as research projects and volunteer opportunities related to autism.

This semester Emerson has stepped up its research of the autism spectrum disorder in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, in part because of funding from two grants, from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.