It's World Autism Awareness Day, which is the reason many people are wearing blue today and tweeting selfies with the hashtag #LIUB, which stands for 'light it up blue.'

Having a brother with Autism, I realize challenges for people with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

My brother is high functioning, but some areas of his thought process just don't connect. For instance, he can remember every president or vice president and any detail about almost any movie, but he absolutely has no concept of money. Whether it's how to allocate it for bill payments of where it actually comes from. It's just not something he puts together.

He doesn't understand the importance of good hygiene. He also has panic attacks when faced with situations that are stressful for him or that trigger fear his defense mechanisms. It's just part of the condition.

Thankfully, there are local places that are specifically targeted to help people with Autism and Aspergers.

The Burkhart Center for Autism Research & Education on the Texas Tech campus has a mission to increase the quality of life for individuals with Autism and their families by providing services, preparing educators and conducting research.

The Parenting Cottage in Lubbock also helps people with Asperger's Syndrome and their families.

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