April has been designated as Autism Awareness month, and the official kickoff to the campaign is April 2 with Autism Awareness Day.

It is also the beginning of the Light It Up Blue campaign, which encourages you to change your regular household light bulbs to blue lights.

Shelley Kolisnek, who works with Autism Services as part of the Saskatoon Health Region says that even some buildings take part in the campaign.

"The Light It Up Blue campaign was started by Autism Speaks, and it was a campaign to bring awareness, but they wanted government buildings to light up blue and buildings in each community to light up blue and that's how they came up with the idea to have light bulbs."

Kolisnek was speaking at Tremblay Electric in Humboldt, who has been the driver behind Humboldt's Light It Up Blue participation.

They will be handing out free blue light bulbs throughout the month in support of autism.

"We want to give out as many blue light bulbs as possible this month," said Adam Tremblay with Tremblay Electric. "Anyone that wants to help light it up blue for this month, come grab light bulbs down at our office location anytime."

Light bulbs will also be available for pick-up April 4-7 at the Humboldt District Health Complex as part of the Equip to Care Radiothon.

With awareness about autism continuing to grow, Kolisnek noted that she is pleased with how mainstream it is becoming.

"I'm really happy that there is more recognition. People are understanding, people are asking questions, and that is ultimately how we are going to be able to support the families."

Events are being held throughout the month in Saskatoon in support of autism, but Kolisnek added that they are working to bring future events and programs to the Humboldt area as they begin to establish a presence in the region.

"We certainly want to grow that. The committment from autism services is to have something here, so we're looking at bring some of our other programs, how are we going to make it better here, we're kind of going okay, we have talked to everybody, how are we going to join together now and bring the services to Humboldt and area."

Autism events in the area can be found through their website.