UMass Medical School is once again participating in “Light it Up Blue” in recognition of National Autism Awareness Month. On Tuesday, April 2, the front of the Medical School building will be illuminated in blue, as will hundreds of iconic landmarks around the world, in an effort to help shine a light on autism.
Preceding the lighting at 7:30 p.m., the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopment Initiative (CANDI) will host a community event in the Faculty Conference Room. Advancing Autism Awareness and Acceptance will feature updates on community autism initiatives at 5:15 p.m. and a screening of the film Autism the Musical, which follows five children on the autism spectrum as they work together to create and perform a live musical production, at 6 p.m. A provider fair for individuals with autism and their families will run concurrently from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Included in the community updates will be announcements of two highly anticipated UMass Medical School initiatives: the release of Understanding Behavioral Interventions training modules for parents, and the upcoming opening of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, the first and only family-centered, integrated, multi-disciplinary clinical program of its kind in Central Massachusetts.
Co-sponsored by CANDI, the Massachusetts Act Early campaign and the Autism Resource of Central Massachusetts, the program is free and open to the public. Visit the Autism Resource Center website to pre-register.
Related links on UMassMedNow:
An annual tradition, UMMS will turn blue for autism
“Light it Up Blue” underscores UMMS commitment to autism research and treatment
Passionate advocate links community to Shriver Center
Tea with MDs connects community with child and adolescent psychiatry experts
