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Public encouraged to use blue for Autism Awareness Month
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Edwin “J.J.” Gurney Jr., 12, shows off the blue light he and his parents want people to purchase and shine on outdoor porch lights and lampposts Monday, which is World Autism Awareness Day. J.J., who has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, is flanked by his father, Edwin Sr., and his mother, Peggy Gurney.
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning Valley residents are walking and wearing blue to raise awareness about autism in events leading up to April, National Autism Awareness Month.
The Valley’s inaugural “Walk Now for Autism Speaks,” organized by Dr. Julie Knapp, director of the Knapp Center for Childhood Development in Boardman, and members of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority at Youngstown State University, will take place Saturday in downtown Youngstown.
The 1.2-mile walk, which has some 625 people and 70 teams signed up to participate, starts and ends at Buffalo Wild Wings, 50 E. Federal St. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the walk starts at 10:30. There is no registration fee. Registered walkers who raise a minimum of $150 will receive a 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks T-shirt.
In a separate event, Peggy Gurney of Cambridge Avenue in Youngstown, whose son, Edwin “J.J.” Gurney Jr., has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, is making a personal plea to her neighbors and friends to put blue bulbs in their outdoor lights and use whatever ways they can think of to use the color blue to raise awareness about autism Monday, World Autism Awareness Day.
“My outside lights stay blue year-round. If my neighbors can’t find a blue bulb — they are available at Home Depot — I will provide one for them,” said Peggy, who is president of the Cochran Park Neighbors Association on the city’s South Side.
She said some people are painting their fingernails and dying their hair blue for Monday. She suggested going online to www.lightitupblue.org/Marks-list/tools-and-resources.do for other ideas on how to “shine a blue light on autism.”
The goal of Autism Speaks is to change the future for people living with autism-spectrum disorders, said Knapp, chairwoman of the event.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism and to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society, she said.
The Knapp Center for Childhood Development provides diagnostic and treatment services to children with autism spectrum disorders.
The Alpha Xi Delta sorority chapter at Youngstown State University helped organize the Austism Speaks walk and has been working nearly a year on Saturday’s event, said Alina Rios, sorority philanthropy chairwoman and its Autism Speaks effort.
The sorority’s 34 members have sponsored many on- and off-campus events to raise awareness and money, including speakers and multiple restaurant “take-overs” at which a portion of sales are donated to the cause, Rios said.
The Knapp Center and Alpha Xi Delta have partnered with other local autism services providers to offer this event to families and friends of those affected with autism. They include the Potential Development Program, Psycare, Rich Center, Vocational and Psychological Services, faculty from YSU, parents raising children with autism, and Youngstown officials.
J.J., 12, son of Edwin Sr. and Peggy Gurney, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, at age 6 when he had trouble paying attention and socializing in school.
“J.J. is very bright with an IQ of 165, but is extremely sensitive to bright light, loud noises and textures of clothing and food,” Peggy said.
For example, she has to use laundry soap that is free of perfumes and dyes, and the fabric softener has to be used because the sheets leave fibers that bother her son.
The Gurneys said they have had to structure their lives a great deal because children with autism crave structure and routine down to when it is time to eat, brush his teeth and even go to the bathroom.
He used to have meltdowns involving full-blown tantrums anytime his routine varied, Peggy said.
“He has learned to somewhat control his reactions. We have Summit Academy School, which J.J. attends, to thank for that. Now, we just put him in his room, from which everything potentially dangerous has been removed, and shut the door until he calms down,” Peggy added.
When asked what he wanted, J.J. turned away from his computer game and said, “I just want people to care about me.”