Today I was assigned to do a story about how regular toys can be a great help to children with autism. While at Toys R Us I met Amy Baker, who has two sons with autism. She told me more about how April is Autism Awareness Month, and how April 2 is special in particular.

It's Autism Awareness Day on Friday. The website, www.lightitupblue.org, has ways people can do something to raise awareness. They say the Empire State Building will be all lit up in blue lights. Other people will string blue Christmas lights on their homes, wear blue to work, etc.

Amy volunteers with Walk Now for Autism Speaks. It's an event that will be held May 1 at This is the Place Heritage Park, to culminate this whole month. She told me about how autism is growing -- how soon everyone will know someone who has it. It's now 1 in 110 children, and 1 in 70 boys.

You may not know someone with autism yet, and you may not know me, but now you will know about my little brother with autism. For him, for Amy Baker, for every other parent and child with autism out there, I will be wearing blue on Friday.