April is Autism Awareness Month and today, April 2 is its main day. Awareness is key and that's because experts believe that the earlier intervention begins, the better the results for children on the autistic spectrum are.

My children attend the Lakeland Central School District, which began a specialized program for children on the autistic spectrum six years ago known as Aspire. Families that are part of the program would agree that it is well named, but a second word comes to mind—inspire.

Ever since Peter has been part of the program I have been inspired by the students, the families, the teachers, the aides and all those in the district that support the program and the work that it does to keep our children in their district while providing a cutting-edge program for those with autistic spectrum disorders.

I was inspired again this week when I learned that the Lakeland Central School District would be lighting up the Administration Building in blue light as part of the Light It Up Blue campaign for Autism Awareness. Lakeland will be joining buildings from around the world as it shines the blue light for all to take a moment and think about autism.

Awareness is beneficial to families that feel isolated and misunderstood because of autism, but on a day like today awareness is even more important for those families that do not yet realize their lives are being touched by the autistic spectrum disorder.

Awareness may help a family with a baby that recoils from his mom’s kiss or a toddler that walks with his hands balled into fists or an almost school-aged child that is not yet speaking in sentences.

My son Peter was that little boy. It was thanks to many specialists and the love and affection of his family and friends that Peter has been able to grow into the young man who now worries about others. He is teaching himself how to count in several languages and is willing to give me a kiss, although I usually still have to ask.

The teachers, aides, administrators and all those on his bus and at his school have all helped make Peter the young man he is today. They have celebrated accomplishments, encouraged him when a new skill seemed too difficult, given him a smile when most would be out of patience. They have also given me encouragement on days when things are difficult and shared stories that give me hope. They have sympathized with us and allowed us to ask questions that they must answer over and over again.

Those little blue lights at the administration building mean much more than the support of the cause of Autism. It is another shining example that those in the Lakeland Central School District truly believe in the Aspire Program and the children who they have made theirs.

When they light it up blue, they are celebrating all that they have accomplished these past six years and are also shining a light into the future.

To learn more about autism, click here.