With Autism Awareness Month upon us, special attention will be paid to the New York/New Jersey area, since its rates are highest in the nation.

According to CBS New York, ever one in 45 children in New Jersey has autism spectrum disorder while the national average is one in 65. State officials find this is a perfect time to bring up the matter with the "light it up blue" event taking place.

"No one has a real handle on why exactly it's 1 in 45," Jonathan Sabin, of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, told CBS NY. "Is it the fact that we have some of the best services in the country here in New Jersey?

"Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, most characterized typically by someone having some more difficulties with social interactions."

On Wednesday, Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby will flip a switch and turn Manhattan's Empire State Building blue. It will be one of thousands of iconic landmarks in the U.S. and elsewhere taking part Wednesday. Joining it will be the Nevada's "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, Colorado's Aspen Mountains, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Sydney Opera House and the International Space Station.

Autism awareness has even spilled into the world of sports. Major League Baseball, whose season begins every April, announced that a portion of ticket sales from each of the 30 teams will benefit Autism Speaks.

"Major League Baseball is proud to partner with Autism Speaks once again in order to raise awareness and support its mission of treating, preventing and curing autism," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Many of our clubs are longstanding supporters of the autism community. As we begin our new season, it is a privilege for our entire industry to stand together behind Autism Speaks and highlight their remarkable work."

Deron Williams, point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, represents a much larger group of professional athletes with autistic children. Like any athlete, Williams would love to have his son D.J. come to watch him play live, but bright lights and loud noises would likely overwhelm a young boy with autism.

"If people don't know about the disease, it's hard to control some of the kids," Williams told the Associated Press. "There's different levels of the spectrum and some kids are bothered by loud noise and ruckus, and so if they can get in a setting where they can kind of be away from it, it makes it a little easier and allows the parents to relax a little bit more and just allow them to enjoy it."

That's why Williams is planning to host 65 families affected by autism in one of the Barclays Center's tranquil suites for the Nets' home game against the Atlanta Hawks April 11. Williams is trying to get more suite owners to donate tickets to more such families during the month of April.