Back in 2013, Nicole Hitchcock, owner of NH2 Salon in Novato, California, wanted to do something special to promote autism awareness during April Autism Awareness Month. She did two things.

 

First, Hitchcock got permission at her salon’s shopping center to “Light It Up Blue” in accordance with the autism awareness campaign of the same name launched by the organization Autism Speaks. Her son flipped on a switch that lit a tall tree in blue lights. By the following year, about 150 people attended the event. Although there is some controversy in the autism community surrounding the Autism Speaks philosophy, the Light It Up Blue campaign has given the condition broad exposure. 

 

The second thing Hitchcock did was to create a video explaining how her thoughts have evolved since becoming a mother to an autistic son. In the video, she explains a little about autism and chronicles her journey with her son, and it remains relevant today for families dealing with autism.

 

 

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