Autism Speaks Official Blog

On Friday April 1, the set of the popular CBS daytime talk show “The Talk” provided a unique and special venue to Light It Up Blue for World Autism Awareness Day. To kick off the show’s four segments on autism during April, co-host and Autism Speaks board member Holly Robinson Peete shared a beautiful video about her family’s personal journey with autism featuring her 13-year-old son RJ. After an emotional chat with her fellow cast members, Holly welcomed Autism Speaks Executive Vice President Peter Bell to talk about what families can do following a diagnosis. They discussed the basics of autism, what it is, what causes it, and what resources are available to families including Autism Speaks’ 100 Day Kit. 

At the show’s conclusion, audience members were given blue “The Talk” t-shirts and many were brought up on stage. After Holly and co-host Julie Chen urged President Obama to light up the White House blue, the ladies of “The Talk” did a countdown which culminated in transforming the set from red to blue in honor of Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue initiative.

On Friday, April 8 the next autism segment will highlight fathers including Holly’s husband, former NFL player Rodney Peete and actor Joe Mantegna, start of the CBS hit show “Criminal Minds.” The following Friday (April 15), the segment will showcase special teens with autism who have overcome challenges. A final segment on April 22 will focus on the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Bell will return as a guest along with former high school basketball phenom Jason McElwain who is now 22.

Autism Speaks thanks Holly and the producers of “The Talk” for devoting so much of their time to covering these important topics for the autism community.