Borough Lights Up Community Center For Autism Awareness

Monday was World Autism Awareness Day, and iconic landmarks around the world “went blue” in support, as part of the Light It Up Blue initiative organized by Autism Speaks.

Locally, the is being lit up blue each night throughout April in recognition of Autism Awareness Month, thanks to Fort Lee Councilman Harvey Sohmer, who recommended the borough do something to acknowledge those who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.

“Everyone in this world is touched by someone who has autism,” Sohmer said. “I thought it would be something nice for the town to do.”

Sohmer said he was inspired by a close friend whose grandson is autistic and a student of the Alpine Learning Group.

“She had mentioned something to me about it, and I thought it would behoove the town if we would do something,” Sohmer said. “I know we always did colored lights; we did pink for breast cancer awareness, [for example]. And I said this would be just absolutely terrific if we could do it for autism.”

Sohmer worked with borough administrator Peggy Thomas and technician Sam Ghali at the community center to make the idea come to light after “running it past [Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich],” he said.

It’s the first time the borough is bringing awareness to autism by lighting the community center, and Sohmer said he would like to see other causes recognized in similar fashion.

“I don’t expect to do it for the Jets or Giants, but things like this, I would not have a problem with,” he said.

A new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that one in 49 children in New Jersey are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by the time they are eight years old.

The CDC estimates that autism affects one out of every 88 children in the U.S., and that boys are five times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. In New Jersey, one out every 29 boys and one in 172 girls are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the CDC.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who authored of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act facilitates research, screenings, therapies and public education, released a statement Wednesday calling autism “a complex disorder” that “requires support tailored to the individual.”

“Whatever the level of severity, autism rates are shockingly high in New Jersey, far above the national average,” Menendez said. “As autism becomes increasingly prevalent in our communities, we need to redouble our efforts to understand what can be done to help these children learn and grow into happy, productive adults.”