ACTION ALERT: AD and Phone-in Campaign to End Autism Insurance Discrimination as Part of Health Care Reform! Calling on YOUR HELP.

Today, Autism Speaks has launched its first national television advocacy campaign, "Neighbors", aimed at reaching millions of informed and politically active Americans and asking them to call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and tell them that ending autism insurance discrimination must be part of Health Care Reform Legislation.

Autismvotes is alerting that phone calls from ALL autism families AND those of friends and extended family are crucial for our issue to be taken seriously and included in Health Care Reform. This is an opportunity that has huge significance for our children. The phone-in campaign kicks off TODAY and will be ongoing until autism insurance reform is included in health reform.

“Neighbors" depicts the consequences of insurance company discrimination against individuals with autism and calls on the American public to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to end autism insurance discrimination in the upcoming health care reform legislation.

1. CALL HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) & SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID (D-NV) AT THE PHONE NUMBERS BELOW!

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-0100

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: (202) 224-3542


If you aren't sure of what to say, just say this:

"Hi, My name is _______________. I am calling from (Your city, your state). I want you to know that health care reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. People with autism deserve coverage for the treatments and therapies that will help their medical condition. Thank you."

Be patient. Be polite. Keep dialing until you get through to them. Then do it again.

2. CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO SENATE MAJORITY LEADER REID AND HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI, URGE THEM TO WATCH THE AUTISM SPEAKS AD, "NEIGHBORS", AND TO END AUTISM INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION!

IMPORTANT: Make sure to add some personal information on why this is such an important issue for you and your family. Be sure to let them know that all children with autism from coast to coast deserve appropriate insurance coverage.

3. IMPORTANT: FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT ACROSS THE COUNTRY!

Put this action alert on your Facebook page, Twitter it, forward to Yahoo groups and local support groups. Forward this email to at least 20 people that do NOT have a child with autism - neighbors, extended family, coworkers, old college and high school friends - and ask them to make these two calls every day for your child

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The health care reform debate in this country is reaching a fever pitch. Autism insurance reform can and MUST be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October. THIS IS THE TIME to end autism insurance discrimination once and for all. Our children have a medical condition which deserves appropriate treatment, therapy and care. Congress needs to know that health care “reform” that fails to stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.

To stay updated on this initiative and more, register at


www.autismvotes.org!

"Neighbors" Ad Calls on U.S. Congress to End Autism Insurance Discrimination

Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, has launched a new national television advertising campaign highlighting private insurers blatant discrimination against children with autism and calling on the U.S. Congress to put an end to it as part of the broader health care reform effort. The thirty-second ad, Neighbors, will air nationally on CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC.
'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rVX_nSLFtg

VIDEO: What Passage of the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act Would Mean to Families and Children

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (IL), sponsor of the legislation in the U.S. Senate and supporters of the ATAA,

S. 819: A bill to provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

House version: H.R.2413.

comment on what is hoped to be gained by families and children throughout the United States by passage of the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act.

Autism Treatment Acceleration Act TV Coverage - YouTube 2:59
April 8, 2009-IL

Don't forget to see the recent post on the CURRENT ACTION ITEM to contact our
Oregon Delegation to Congress and urge their support of the ATAA.
Thank you for your action and your support!

NEWSFLASH: Watch Montana's Brandon's Bill being signed into law

VIDEO: Montana's Autism Bill Signed

Montana is now the 10th state in the nation to require insurance companies
to pay for autism care.

http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/44417507.html


"...On Tuesday [Montana Governor] Schweitzer signed Brandon's Bill into law. "It gives every family with a child with autism hope," he said. It's something the governor identifies with personally, having raised a son with autism..."

Cover story KATU news, Portland: "House bill to help cover costs of Autism "

Broadcast Wed. May 5, 2009 during the 4PM news broadcast
at KATU, Channel 2, Portland, Oregon

House bill to help cover costs of Autism

"Oregon has one of the highest rates of children with Autism in the US, yet the state has not been able to pass legislation to help parents with the burden of treating their children. A bill stuck in the house [HB 3000 in the House Rules Committee] right now would force insurance companies to help, and dozens of families are counting on that bill to help ease the financial burden."

http://www.katu.com/news/medicalalert/44499612.html

Thank you to Lisa and John McHenry for sharing their story and
thank you to KATU for sharing it with the public!

NEWSFLASH: Wed. 5/6, 4:00PM-- HB 3000 on Portland Channel 2/KATU

We've been given the heads-up that KATU, Portland Channel 2, will be covering HB 3000 and autism on their news broadcast at today, Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00PM.

KATU News also has a live online streaming option.

(It's not known yet whether this will be rebroadcast in the later newscasts at 5:00 PM, 6:00PM or 11:00PM, but we'll post that info if it becomes available.)

We'll include a link to what gets posted at the KATU website as it becomes available.

Don't forget to tune in!

Sidebar: "Educating Children with Autism Statewide Conference"

This came in the email today, and while not immediately concerned with HB 3000,[Requires health insurers and state medical assistance program to reimburse for diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.] might be of interest to those who are interested in autism treatment and what the state of Oregon is proposing to do in educating our children.
Oregon House Representative Chris Edwards will be sharing legislative updates

Educating Children with Autism
Statewide Conference
Saturday, May 16, 2009

Portland Memorial Coliseum meeting rooms, Rose Quarter

www.ceed.pdx.edu/autismconf
(Breakfast and lunch are included in the conference fee of $45-55)

Please join us for an exciting day focused on the education of children with autism spectrum disorder. Highlights of the conference:

The keynote speaker, Dr. Laura Schreibman, professor at University of California at San Diego , will be speaking on “The Science and Fiction of Autism”.

Dr. Schreibman will also do a session on the latest research for Pivotal Response Training (PRT). Additionally there will be 20 breakout sessions on a variety of topics presented by specialists throughout Oregon .

Representative Chris Edwards will provide an update on the latest legislative agenda in the area of autism.

The conference will focus on current instructional strategies used in Pre-k through 12^th grade classrooms and will also provide practical field-tested suggestions. There will also be a strand on school, family and community partnerships.

The workshops are designed to be a resource for people who are new to the field of autism training as well as those with advanced knowledge and experience.

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Conference and registration information are available at:

www.ceed.pdx.edu/autismconf

(Breakfast and lunch are included in the conference fee of $45-55)

Venue: Portland Memorial Coliseum meeting rooms, Rose Quarter

Maps, directions and parking information available on the conference website

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Sponsored in part by:

Portland Trailblazers,, Oregon Department of Education Northwest Autism Foundation,

Easter Seals of Oregon, Portland State University

CBS News On ABA and Who Covers It

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, discussing the Federal Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, S. 819, which, like Oregon's HB 3000, is also considering coverage of applied behavior analysis treatment for children with autism,

"...(ABA) is considered by many to be the "gold standard" in therapy and treatment for children and other disorders, but specifically for autism...[on whether autism should be addressed by schools or medicine] right now autism is diagnosed by physicians, not teachers, so that really puts the onus on the medical community, and therefore, the insurance companies to cover it. I think we're starting to see now people thinking not just with their bankbooks here, but with their hearts, soul--they need to invest in the future of these children, or the costs will be much higher."

What's at stake--Best Outcome From Autism

Breaking Barriers: "Can You Recover From Autism?"
MSNBC, 5:17min
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