Holyoke turns on the blue lights for autism

Date: 4/5/2013

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE — The statistics are staggering and the city of Holyoke has once again joined the effort to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Mayor Alex Morse proclaimed that April is Autism Awareness Month in the Paper City and announced that once again City Hall will feature a blue light.

The local effort of the national campaign is not only intended to distribute information about autism, but also to raise money for educational material on autism used in Holyoke Schools. Morse asked residents to switch out their porch light to a blue one for the month.

City Treasurer Jon Lumbra, who helped organized the event, said educational materials are "desperately needed tools and resources for the children."

Lynn Ostrowski, the director of Corporate Relations and Brand for Health New England delivered a $1,000 donation for the campaign. She explained the health insurer's support was part of its efforts to "improve the lives of it members."

The website of the Centers for Disease Control defined ASD as "a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. That means ASDs affect each person in different ways, and can range from very mild to severe. People with ASDs share some similar symptoms, such as problems with social interaction. But there are differences in when the symptoms start, how severe they are, and the exact nature of the symptoms."

The third annual Walk for Autism will be conducted on April 28 as the concluding event of the month, according to one of its organizers, Stephanie Joyce. Joyce said this would be the third year for the walk, which was started by P.J. Westcott, a paraprofessional in the Holyoke schools.

Last year, Joyce said 300 walkers participated and $8,000 was raised. The organizers are hoping to reach that goal this year.

Participants are asked to contribute $15 for adults and $10 for children younger than the age of 12. The walk will start at 11 at the Dam Café on Northampton Street, proceed to Nick's Nest and then back to the Dam Café.

Although walkers can register the day of the event, those who register at either restaurant by April 14 will receive a nylon drawstring bag.

According CDC website, in the United States "about 1 in 88 children has been identified with an ASD, according to estimates from CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network ... ASDs are almost five times more common among boys (1 in 54) than among girls (1 in 252). Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified individuals with an ASD with an average prevalence of about 1 percent. A recent study in South Korea reported a prevalence of 2.6 percent. About one in six children in the U.S. had a developmental disability in 2006-2008, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism."

For more information about the "Light It up Blue" campaign, go to www.lightitupblue.org.