COVID-19 is doing its best to keep celebrations and good news suppressed.
One area it hasn’t been able to snuff out though is the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day today. While this year’s “Light It Up Blue” festivities will not be held in the normal sense, it will still have a presence online.
Hands theFamilyHelpNetwork says they will be lighting up their buildings blue, while sharing photos of staff and families on social media while working from home to support the Autism community. Hands says online services is nothing new for the organization as they have been delivering online services for a number of years throughout northern Ontario.
“Autism Services at Hands hasn’t slowed down at all. We are here to help and we are ready to Light It Up Blue,” said Dr. Karen Grattan-Miscio, Senior Manager of Autism Services at Hands. “We have significantly increased our virtual, online presence for families. We’ve seen an increase in families accessing our online seminars and consultations, and we are providing direct therapy online. The team is updating our content to provide more options for families including new seminars, online clinics and groups, and new therapy options. It is vitally important our work continues for the families we help, and it’s also important for our staff and families that we all celebrate Light It Up Blue.”
This year’s celebration marks the 13th annual World Autism Awareness Day. Communities and buildings all over the world come together to Light It Up Blue in recognition of people with autism and those who support them.
