KEARNEY, Neb. -- World Autism Awareness Day is recognized annually on April 2.

Around 1 in 36 kids are diagnosed with autism, and its four times higher in boys than girls in the U.S., according to autismspeaks.org.

A central Nebraska organization is making awareness for it a year-round effort.

"The saying goes if you’ve met one individual with autism, you’ve met one individual with autism, because it’s just so completely different," Aaron Bly said.

Bly is no stranger to autism. He has two kids on the spectrum who have varying levels of dependence. He and his family created the Kids and Dreams Foundation with a goal of sharing the importance of the mission and the people.

"Don’t be afraid of individuals with autism or the situation if you have an interaction with them," said Bly, the executive director of the organization. "It’s just a great chance to learn from them.

"Our hope then is to provide information, resources, for those individuals so they can gain a better understanding and more of an acceptance for individuals on the spectrum."

Few would have a better grasp of acceptance than Bly, who holds a summer camp for kids aged 7 to 12. What started as one has grown to three with over 150 campers participating and around 400 volunteers.

"It’s like you step into a whole new world because we take the cell phones away from the volunteers. Every camper as at least two volunteers with them and the whole mission for our volunteers is to make that weekend experience for (the campers) one that they’ll never forget," said Bly.

"I came (to camp) every four years and I think Shine Camp is the best thing ever. When I came here the first year, it actually kind of changed my life, so I'm pretty sad that I'm leaving. I wish I could stay (at camp) for the rest of my life," one camper said.

 

The campers aren’t the only ones who come away from those weekends with an experience of a lifetime. Bly says they're looking for another 50 to 75 volunteers for each camp.

"The bonds that are created, we’ve had tons of stories where they’ve left camp, they stay in contact the whole year and they come back and they’ll volunteer again for them next year."