Cork City ‘Lights It Up Blue’ To Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day 2013 in conjunction with the Cork Association for Autism
Cork City is celebrating World Autism Awareness Day on the 2nd April by participating in the Cork Association for Autism’s ‘Light It Up Blue’ campaign to raise awareness for Autism in Cork and Ireland. Many iconic landmarks throughout the world will also be lit up in blue to raise awareness for this disability. These include The Rockefeller Center in New York, the Tokyo Tower in Japan, Canada’s CN Tower, the Sydney Opera House in Australia and Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge – and Cork City is joining them!
World Autism Awareness Day therefore shines a bright light on Autism as a growing global concern. It also celebrates the unique talents and skills of people with Autism and features community events around the world where individuals with Autism and their families are warmly welcomed and embraced.
The Cork Association for Autism wants to raise awareness for this disability through a coordinated Awareness campaign during the month of April, including Light it Up Blue – this year they are hosting an Autism Awareness Forum – in the 7th April; Autism from Adolescence to Adulthood to raise awareness of how Autism affects adults on the spectrum.
Director of Service’s for the CAA Joe McDonald comments, ‘We are very grateful that Cork City has chosen to support World Autism Awareness Day. It is vital that awareness is raised throughout Cork City and County and indeed Ireland in relation to Autism. Every village, town and city is affected by Autism and regrettably there is still a lot of misunderstanding in relation to it. By holding an event such as this, Cork City has helped to highlight this ‘hidden disability’ and give those affected the recognition they deserve.’
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that while all people with Autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. There are currently as many as 1 in every 90 individuals being diagnosed on the Autistic spectrum within Ireland.
Confirmed:
UCC Quad
Clarion Hotel
Cork Vision Centre
Blackrock Castle
Elysian Spire
Firkin Crane
Blarney Castle
Triskal Christchurch
Rochestown Park Hotel