World Autism Awareness Day 2012

Throughout the month of April, the NBA is partnering with international organization Autism Speaks for the third consecutive year to recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month. Since its inception in 2005, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $173 million to research and developing innovative new resources for families. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

The league and its teams will raise fan awareness about autism through a variety of events, including:

• Several NBA teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings will host Autism Awareness Nights.
• To commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, Madison Square Garden, the NBA TV studio and more than 2,000 iconic buildings and landmarks worldwide will be lit blue as part of Autism Speaks’ Light It Up Blue initiative to shed light on this growing public health crisis.