Hartford, CT – The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) will join Autism Speaks and organizations across the globe in celebrating and promoting World Autism Awareness Day on Monday, April 2nd by participating in Light It Up Blue. Light it Up Blue is a worldwide event during which businesses, households, iconic landmarks, and other public and private buildings display exterior blue lights to show their support and to raise awareness of autism. Starting at 6:00 p.m. on April 2nd, CREC’s Central Office located on Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford will light the building blue through the night.

CREC is pleased and excited to participate in this international event on behalf of its staff and the students and families of Connecticut. For 40 years, CREC has managed the River Street Autism Program in Windsor, Connecticut. River Street provides intensive year-round services for children with autism between the ages of 3 and 10.

This is the third year of the special Light It Up Blue event. In past years, participating buildings and landmarks included the Empire State Building in New York, the Cairo Tower in Egypt, the Paris and New York Stock Exchanges, Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Rockefeller Center in New York, Niagara Falls in Ontario Canada, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. World Autism Awareness Day activities like Light It Up Blue help to increase and develop knowledge of autism information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, including committing over $173 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. For more information about Light It Up Blue and World Autism Awareness Day, visit www.lightitupblue.org or www.autismspeaks.org.