NSU Lights it up Blue

Novosibirsk State University joins the international action Light it up Blue on 2nd April, when all around the globe people demonstrate awareness and support for everyone impacted by autism. In 2015 over 18,600 buildings lit up blue to shine a light on autism. This year the goal is to reach 20,000 buildings. The new building of the University is going to have the blue lighting to show our awareness of the issue.

Autism Speaks, the world's largest non-governmental autism advocacy organization, has partnered up with the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat to make this campaign bigger and better every year. The tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and the Patronas Twin Towers in Malaysia will light it up blue for the first time. Thousands of buildings and landmarks have gone “blue” year after year, including the Empire State building in New York, Sydney Opera House in Australia, Niagara Falls in Canada, The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Freedom Tower in New York, John Hancock Center in Chicago, and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. In Novosibirsk, the buildings joining the action include Novosibirsk State University, the Pobeda cinema and some other organizations

Autism being a global issue, the World Health Organization estimates that 1 child in 160 has an autism spectrum disorder. It is a group of complex brain development disorders characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and a restricted and repetitive repertoire of interests and activities. It is estimated that around 50% of persons with ASD also suffer from an intellectual disability. A resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, which was passed and adopted in 2007, designated 2nd April the World Autism Awareness Day, mainly in order to improve human rights.

In Novosibirsk, the Center of Applied Behavior Analysis at NSU, an NGO Atmosphera and the Pobeda cinema have cooperated to show cartoons adopted for autistic children.

The Center of Applied Behavior Analysis at NSU was created as part of the project on studying modern methods of treating autism. The Center is one of those few organizations in Russia that treat autistic children using methods of ABA, which have been proved efficient by numerous research evidences. The NGO Atmosphera aims at helping parents with autistic children by consulting them on the possibilities of education and methods of treatment for such children. It joins forces of the parents who advocated the project on preparing specialists for treating autism at NSU.