Autism Speaks has been illuminating iconic landmarks around the world with blue light for World Autism Day for the last three years, as part of its "Light It Up Blue" campaign.
This year, the tech world is joining the campaign for the first time, as Outfit7's Talking Tom mobile app joins the awareness effort.
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Talking Tom, the fifth most-downloaded mobile app of all time, will have a blue T-shirt you can download in the app. By downloading the blue T-shirt, players can express their support for the community with autism, by including the blue tee shirt in videos they share on Facebook and YouTube.
While the illuminated global landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera House, the Great Buddha in Japan and Niagara Falls, attract a lot of eyeballs, the Talking Tom app is unique for giving individuals the chance to be a part of the campaign.
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Autism Speaks is taking to cable television, too, as 23 channels join the "Light It Up Blue" campaign. In addition to AMC Networks, which is leading the cable TV effort, Animal Planet, Bravo, Comedy Central, the Food Network and many others are taking part.
Networks will run a 15-second PSA about autism. Some networks will turn their logo and branding blue for the day as well.
World Autism Awareness Day, celebrated annually April 2, is a fairly new awareness holiday, first recognized by the U.N. General Assembly in 2007. Despite its recent beginnings, "Today is World Autism Awareness Day" trended worldwide on Twitter Monday morning, showing the campaign's wide reach.
Can tech and social media play a larger role in future awareness day campaigns? Let us know in the comments.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
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