It's World Autism Awareness Day and my social media feeds are filling up with blue. Today is the day to "Light It Up Blue" - blue light bulbs, blue clothing, blue puzzle pieces, blue anything to show support.
I'll be honest - I was reluctant to wear blue today (but I did anyway). And this morning as I watched Goodday New York and Ines Rosales said something like, "I was reminded on Twitter that today is World Autism Awareness Day that's why I have on blue." And that was it. She went on with the traffic report. (I mean, she may have said something later in the segment but I had to leave to go to work.)
Norrin was diagnosed with autism nearly 7 years ago. We are autism aware every single day. And for the last 4 years, I've written about autism and shared our journey. I don't believe today is about me or him or anyone in the autism community. Autism Awareness Day is for everyone else - all the outsiders looking in - who don't know a thing about autism.
Throughout the month of April - there will be blog posts (some written by yours truly), tv segments, articles, and celebrities all doing their part to raise awareness. But by May 1st most folks will be autism awarenessed out and ready to move on to the next thing.
As the years have gone on, World Autism Awareness Day - this entire month - means less and less to me.
[I pretty much agree with everything Mama Fry says in her I'm Aware post]
Because real talk: who cares if you wear blue today. What does wearing a color, a blue light bulb or changing your profile picture really do?
Don't get me wrong - it's appreciated. It's a caring gesture. (A gesture I even encouraged Latina Bloggers to do.) But that's all it is - a gesture. One little thing that does nothing at the end of the day.
Wearing blue for a day will not change my kid's life. It's time to think beyond blue. This is the time to make a difference.
Autism awareness means nothing if people aren't willing to accept it, talk about it and acknowledge that it's real.
Our kids need to be accepted and supported. Not just when they're cute little babies but through every stage of their life.
It's great if you Light It Up Blue today, but it's what you do tomorrow that counts.
Labels: Acceptance, Atypical Familia, Atypical Mami, Autism Awareness, Autism Awareness Month 2015, Keeping It Real
