What do you think would happen if everyone who blogs about autism spectrum related issues or who reads about it sent a letter to President Obama asking him to do this for two nights?  The nights are April 1, 2011 and  April 2, 2011 in honor of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, 2011.  I’m not sure where the idea started.  I first saw it on Facebook.  It might have originated at the Word Press site, Light the White House Blue for Autism. Yesterday I saw a post from Ms. Sergeant Major after AK Butler Try Defying Gravity brought it to my attention.  This inspired me to write my letter which I am posting below.  It is easy to contact the White House if you feel inspired to help too.

Mr. President,

I want you to know that I do appreciate the efforts you have made to help shine the light on bullying as my child on the autism spectrum was also a victim of bullying.  Therefore both of these issues are very dear to my heart.

My daughter’s autistic traits were there when she was a baby, but they went unnoticed until she entered school and even then she did not get the correct diagnosis until she was ten. Our experiences prompted me to write a short novel to educate others about girls on the spectrum in hopes of teaching tolerance of differences. I am asking you to please help me to get the word out by turning the White House blue on April 2, 2011 to shine awareness on Autism in hopes that this light will help someone else avoid our fate.

Mahalo for your help,

D. S. Walker