Morristown Neighborhood Goes Blue For Autism Awareness

With April being National Autism Awareness Month, a handful of Morristown residents are showing support by lighting up their neighborhood blue. The Hand family on Lake Road swapped out their front porch light for a blue bulb and about 10 of their neighbors followed suit. 

Each April 2, Autism Speaks celebrates Light It Up Blue along with the international autism community, in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day. In honor of the day, many iconic landmarks, hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, bridges and retail stores are among the hundreds of thousands of homes and communities that take part to Light It Up Blue.

We have a 5-year-old son with autism. Many of our neighbors have replaced their outside lights with blue lights in a show of their solidarity, support and awareness," said Carolyn Hand. "If you drive down Lake Road in Morristown tonight you may see them. We have fantastic neighbors. You may spot some other blue lights as well."

The Hand family has also formed a team called Brady's Battalion for the October "Walk Now for Autism Speaks," which is the nation's largest grassroots autism walk program that takes place in communities across the United States and is also Autism Speaks' signature fundraising and awareness event.

Those looking to support the cause can start creating teams to join and raise money for the local Autism Speaks walk or you can join as an individual. The local walk will take place in Central Park in Morris Plains on Saturday, Oct. 5 and has raised a little over $4,000. Not able to make it but still want to help out? You can donate as well on the website. This will be the second year the Morris area will host this walk. 

Nearby, an author from Morris Plains is also paying it forward. Shelley Tzorfas, author of “Recovering Autism, ADHD, & Special Needs: A Guide to Help Parents and Those who Work with Children Heal their Children Now,” is inviting the public to come in and chat about her book on Sunday, April 14 at 11 a.m., at Barnes & Noble, Livingston Mall, 112 Eisenhower Pkwy., Livingston.