To the world, Gabriel Heydt looks just like every other 5-year-old boy.

He is energetic and curious, loves Disney movies, trains and playing outdoors and with his cousins.But he is also special.Gabriel has autism."Our son was diagnosed in 2011," his mother, Marie, of Jim Thorpe, said via Facebook. "My initial thought after diagnosis was, how can I keep this quiet so no one finds out."But after accepting the diagnosis I decided it would be better for Gabe, us as parents, family, friends and the community to know why our son is the way he is and to put an explanation behind it so they too can accept Gabe and his autism."Marie and her husband Jacob, as well as family members educated themselves about this condition and have worked to bring awareness to a disorder that affects one in every 68 children.This year, Marie decided that they wanted to promote awareness on a larger scale and learned about the Autism Speaks' annual "Light it up Blue" campaign on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day."We thought of what would be the most impressive place to light up blue in this area," she said, adding that the courthouse was the best place because of its location.Her family approached the Carbon County Commissioners and asked them to light the courthouse in blue for the evening in honor of World Autism Awareness Day and the county graciously accepted."We were so appreciative when the commissioners loved the idea," Marie said.But the commissioners took the Heydt family's request one step further and motorists and visitors traversing downtown Jim Thorpe on evenings throughout the month of April will see small blue candles lighting each window of both the county courthouse and courthouse annex.Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said that this was the least that the commissioners could do to help spread the world about autism.He noted that he and his fellow commissioners decided to pay for all the blue bulbs used for the two buildings themselves."We wanted to help spread awareness," Gerhard said, thanking the Heydt family for approaching the board with the idea."Our community has been so accepting and supportive we just can't thank everyone enough," Marie said. "We also want to thank the Carbon County commissioners for sponsoring this 'Light it up Blue' event and we're so excited to share in it with them and the county for the very first time."We are honored that our son, Gabe, had a huge part in this."