With April being the first full month of spring, we start to say goodbye to the winter weather and hello to the brighter and warmer months. Along with growth and renewal, April also represents something else – World Autism Month.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has taken a bit of a spotlight in recent years with its prevalence estimated to be 1 in 68 children in the United States. This is a 30% increase from about five years ago when 1 in 88 children were identified with ASD.1
Here at ViaCord, we’re committed to not only helping advance the potential applications of banked cord blood, but also to helping families who need to use their banked cord blood in any way we can.
That’s why we’re excited to announce that for each enrollment we receive during the month of April, ViaCord will make a $10 donation to support families who are participating in the current Phase II Autism Clinical Research Trial.* The goal of this study is to determine if there is a benefit from an intravenous infusion of autologous (the child’s own) or unrelated donor cord blood to children with ASD. You can read more about the study here.
April is a time to shine a light on Autism in support of greater understanding and acceptance. It’s a time to celebrate individuals who are living with ASD, each with their own individual strengths and challenges. So how can you get involved with World Autism Month? Here are three easy ways:
- Wear blue on April 2nd to honor the millions of families affected by Autism. Don’t forget to share your picture on social media with the hashtag #LightItUpBlue
- For the month of April you can turn your Facebook profile picture blue!
- Share this post! Simply share this post with your friends to help raise awareness and support.
*Duke University’s Pbmt Family Support Program
In honor of Autism Awareness Month, for the month of April, ViaCord will donate $10 for every enrollment to Duke University’s PBMT Family Support Program. Duke’s PBMT gives patients and their families the opportunity to receive services that otherwise may not have been available or financially accessible. Visit clinicaltrials.gov for more info about the Phase II Autism trial: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02847182
References 1. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0327-autism-spectrum-disorder.html
