A local community will have a new nighttime look to call attention to and increase the understanding of autism.
The lights at Cranberry Township’s Rochester Road Municipal Center will have a blue hue each night through the month of April in solidarity with World Autism Month.
The goal of the blue lighting- which will include many other buildings, landmarks and homes across the country- is to help raise awareness and increase acceptance of people with autism.
Two years ago Cranberry’s Municipal Center was outfitted with energy-efficient LED bulbs in front of the building that can color on demand.
Autism is a disorder with a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, according to Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization founded in 2005. Autism Speaks sponsors research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children in the United States today.