Cory Carlotto was an honored special guest of Mayor Daniel Bianchi during Thursday's reading of a proclamation to raise awareness of the disease.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Park Square will be lit up with blue lights throughout the month of April to help raise awareness of autism.

 

Hillcrest Educational Centers, Limelight Productions, and the city have teamed up to install blue lights in both Park Square and at City Hall to remind people when they drive by about the impacts and prevalence of autism.

 

On Thursday, Mayor Daniel Bianchi dedicated a proclamation honoring the money to Cory Carlotto, a city resident with the condition. 

 

"Cory is just a wonderful young man. His mom works here in City Hall and he is just a delightful gentleman. He works in the community and is such a pleasure to have around. But he has been impacted by autism as well. It is really important for us as a community to put a face on autism because it really brings it home," Bianchi said.

 

Meanwhile the mayor's office is selling magnets at $5 a piece to help raise money for local organizations that help those with autism. 

 

"It is becoming a tremendous challenge for all communities who are facing these issues. I don't think there is enough research and knowledge about autism but it affects our community. It affects our educational system. And it affects to many families," Bianchi said. "One in 86 children show up on the autism spectrum, which is incredible. As a society we have to get a handle on this. We have to help the families who are struggling with it."

 

In the last decade, prevalence rose from 1 in 166 to 1 in 88. It is still unknown what causes the neurological disorder and there is no cure. The mayor encouraged residents to call federal and state legislators to allocate additional resources for research.

 

Meanwhile, Hillcrest Educational Director of Business Development Michael Supranowicz is hoping to keep the disease in people's minds all month. The organization teamed up with Lenox-based Limelight Productions for the blue lights in Park Square and at City Hall.

 

"Strategic places all over the world have been lit up on April 2 and through the whole month — the Space Needle in Seattle, Wash., the Empire State Building — so we thought we could make an impact in Berkshire County as well," Supranowicz said. "It is really to bring awareness."

 

At dusk on Thursday, the city will turn on the blue lights and leave them on all month.