Petition Tag - autism

There should be a statement for children with autism as soon as they start school. These children are often refused due to funding.

This means children struggle to get 1 to 1 help in school which puts them behind for years.

Parents are left fighting for years not knowing where to start.

Thank you for your help.

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In Tasmania currently there is one school to educate Autistic students. Unfortunately the government doesn't think we need another in tassie so autistic kids are missing out on educational outcomes.

I ask is to have an autism specific school in Hobart where we are able send our children without the fear of them not being accepted or humiliated for being themselves.

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Ryan Fox is a 18 year old severely Autistic man he weighs 18 Stone his mum is only 5ft tall and weighs 6 stone. Ryan can have major meltdowns he has put his head through a car window in the past and self harms.

He can throw himself on the floor and his mum has to try and get him back to the car. Now when this is on the top floor of a multistory carpark his 6 stone mum has no hope. The government will not give him a blue badge as he can walk but if his mum can not get him to the car he has no verbal communication so he would walk straight in the path of a car which could lead to his death. Please help!

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My son was attending special ed class at a stockton school my son was diagnosed with autism four months ago. I've had so many problems with the teacher/and aids in his kindergarten class. My son is 6 yrs but he was referred to a different school because they were not equipped to handle his autism.

My son is not a bully and he's not mentally retarded he has a hard time communicating. My son has a hard time focusing on school activities and staying seated. But he does know his letters and loves the ez school alphabet game online.

These children with autism need the right tools in learning computer use for learning activities and also learning devices/ for hearing and seeing and language for speak and say phonics on computers.

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Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome (FACS) can occur when a mother has to take epilepsy medications (anti-convulsants) during pregnancy. Anticonvulsants are also used to treat bipolar, mood disorder and migraines.

A child exposed in utero to AEDS such as valproate, phenytoin, barbiturates and carbamazepine may experience delay in developing speech and language or may have difficulties with social interaction (autistic spectrum), memory and attention. Some may also have other conditions, such as spina bifida, heart defects and ocular abnormalities etc. They may also have characteristic facial and physical features.

My son has been to visit a paediatric geneticist who is considering the possibility of Foetal Valproate Syndrome or FVS (which is one of the anticonvulsant Syndromes). He is currently undergoing a wide range of testing and is being referred to a number of health professionals to assess his case.

My other children (both girls) have other issues including learning difficulties and vision impairment which our geneticist does not believe to be enough to prove a link to FVS. In my mind however, whilst it is possible that these are merely coincidental it is also possible that valproate effected them to lesser degrees.

I would like to call for the Australian government to legislate warnings on all anticonvulsant medications regarding the risks of the full effects of Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndromes and where children have been exposed in utero to these teratogens, screenings should be scheduled throughout early childhood in order to diagnose and provide treatment and support as needed for these children and their families.

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In Australia right now there are families with Autistic children. This is known, however what isn't known is most of these families go with out vital early intervention for their children. Go with out support, respite, speech therapy, OT, most parents go with out basics like sleep, work, social life, most marriages fail due to the undue stress.

Most families with Autistic children need access to early intervention but sadly most can't afford these services. We need to have a early intervention for all Autistic Children.

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Citizenship and Immigration Canada has rejected the Kim family’s application for permanent residency, and stated that the family must leave Canada because Taehoon (the youngest son)'s autism represents a potential burden on social and health care. We believe this decision is groundless, since Taehoon’s condition does not require any medical care from the government.

If the family were sent back to South Korea, Taehoon may face intolerance and discrimination on account of his disability. He will have difficulty adjusting to the Korean society and school system, because he grew up in Canada since he was 3 years old. Prejudices against people with disabilities will likely mean greater limitations and fewer opportunities for Taehoon in South Korea.

The Kim family has been living in Hamilton, Canada, since 2003. Mr. Sungsoo Kim is an IT Help Desk Administrator at Pattison Outdoors, Canada’s largest outdoor advertising company. Together with his wife, Sunmi Kim, he is an active member of his community, having been serving as a committee member, a youth leader, and a Sunday school principal at St. Peter Yu Roman Catholic Church in Hamilton.

Mr. and Mrs. Kim have a daughter named Bookyung (Lisa) - a high-achiever in Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School, and a 12-year-old son named Taehoon who has been diagnosed with autism. He is currently attending St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Elementary School, and has made tremendous progress since coming to Canada, adjusting very well to his new home and enjoying his school life.

Hamilton Spectator: http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/687412--canada-doesn-t-want-this-autistic-boy

Canadian Korean Times: http://www.cktimes.net/board_read.asp?boardCode=board_immigration_visa&boardNumber=459

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UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE 2/8/12

Upperlimits HAS BEEN SAVED from closure!!!

Through your support and the efforts of the club staff, climbers, their family and friends Leek College agreed to colaberate with Leek High School and gift the equipment to the climbing club. Leek High School has also offered their support to encourage the development of a community based climbing centre.

Thank you for your support.

Leek Climbing Centre as it is now known is carrying on with the regular programme of Kids Club and Squad training as well as providing a training centre for climbers of all ages and abilities.

To contact Mark at the centre contact: 07837881198

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE 6/3/12

At a recent meeting with Leek College principal, Rob Morrey we were told that UPPERLIMITS CLIMBING WALL WILL CLOSE ON 31ST JULY 2012.

Upperlimits has already closed down as a provider of outdoor pursuits activities for Leek College and, although the Kids Climbing Club is growing in numbers, it doesn't fit the criteria for further education. Therefore the climbing wall can no longer be part of the college.

BUT…
Leek College has pledged to extend the use until 31st July to allow climbers of all ages time to find alternative funding and management to keep the wall. They have also promised to include the users in any developments and support the users find independence.

SO…
With this aim a committee representing users and supporters is being formed to keep the wall open and running as a climbing facility for community use.

We would like to thank you for your heartfelt support and ask you to please offer what you can whether time, advice, or ideas that continue your support. Any help however small or seemingly irrelevant is powerful.

THE PETITION IS STILL ACTIVE.
Not only will it ensure fair treatment by Leek College, it will help to demonstrate the need a community climbing wall to secure funding.

It has already had an impact!

BACKGROUND
The kids club has been going for many years and has produced national climbing champions and influenced the careers of many young people, who have passed through the ranks to become instructors and move on to related employment.

Since relocating to Leek High Specialist Technology School from Longnor in 2011 kids club membership has outgrown one evening and now occupies two evenings of double sessions.

Upperlimits is unique among similar children's climbing clubs for the dedicated and individual attention given by the staff. Each child is befriended and helped by staff and more experienced youth members. Complex skills are taught through fun and peer support as confidence is gained through the risk taking aspects of climbing in a safe environment.

Many of the members are effected by difficulties from conditions such as Autism and Dyspraxia. The club provides an essential outlet for these young people to feel accepted and to achieve without the pressure of competition. For some it is their only social contact outside school.

The families who attend have found a rare welcome and exceptional tolerance for tag-along siblings with similar conditions. Many have not attended other clubs without fear of disrupting the session. Comfortable seating and beverages are thoughtfully provided while they watch.

With public access other climbers are welcomed at any time adding diversity and a greater pool of shared skills. The youth members particularly benefit from seeing adults climbing.

The centre is situated in Leek with no alternative closer than in Stoke-on-Trent 20 miles away which for most members would be too far to travel.

Upperlimits is not just a sports club, it is a life-line to many of its users past and present. It is essential that it remains open.

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Camden Council is once again proposing to close Netherwood Day Centre for people with Alzheimer's and dementia. In January this year the council said the specialist purpose built-centre, which has been hailed by dementia and Alzheimer's experts from around the world, would close on 1 July. We led a campaign to keep it open, collected more than 4000 signatures and huge public support and in March the centre was saved.

Now the council is suggesting closing Netherwood, as well as four other centres for people with autism; mental health difficulties and learning difficulties and moving all of those who use the centres onto one site on an industrial estate in Kentish Town (Greenwood Place). The centres will be sold off to fund this.

Once again we will fight to save Netherwood Day Centre. A final decision will be made by the council in February 2012.

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Please help us save five centres that are threatened with closure by Camden council. Netherwood and Raglan day centres for people with Alzheimer's and dementia are under threat as are the Highgate day centre for people with mental health difficulties, New Shoots for people with autism and learning difficulties and Greenwood centre for people with learning difficulties.

Camden council wants to sell off all five centres and move the people who attend them to one large 'community resource centre' at Greenwood Place in north west London.

We believe this centralising of such care is a regressive step and will see yet again the vulnerable in our society attacked so that Camden council can balance the books. This is a cynical and damaging cost-cutting exercise.

We call on Camden council to withdraw this proposal to close all five centres and to abandon plans for the Greenwood Place site. We also call on Camden Council to safeguard the future of these five much-loved and vital centres.

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Many medical conditions are being misdiagnosed. These conditions are all caused by a Mitochondrial Disorder:

- Alzheimers
- Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Atherosclerosis
- Autism
- Blindness
- Cancers
- Cardio myopathies
- Deafness
- Diabetes type 1+2
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Huntingtons
- Infertility
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Migraines
- Mental illnesses
- Muscular dystrophie
- Strokes
- Parkinson's Disease
- Normal muscle fatigue
And many more conditions.

After my girlfriend was diagnosed with this condition we were told.that there is no cure or treatment and that government funding is little.

This condition effects 1 in 20,000 people and most never know they have it as diagnoses is very difficult.

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The cuts being made to benefits and the proposed assessments that will be carried out are a huge cause of concern to us - we believe they are immoral and cruel. Reasonable adjustments are not being made and people with autism face much discrimination as a result.

Only 15 per cent of adults with autism are in full time paid employment (Reid, B. 2006 ‘Moving on up? Negotiating the transition to adulthood for young people with autism NAS) compared to 48 per cent of the whole population of people with disabilities (Labour Force survey, office for national statistics 2008)

Adults with autism often want to work and with the correct level of support it has been proven that they can. This suggests that the low employment figures cannot be attributed to a lack of desire to work. These statistics also clearly demonstrate that it is considerably more difficult for an adult with autism than an adult with another disability to secure full time employment.

There are a number of key challenges that prevent people with autism from accessing work. These range from a lack of appropriate skills due to problems in accessing education and training (including social skills and work skills training) to the failure of employers to understand and make reasonable adjustments (both during the recruitment process and in the workplace) and a lack of appropriate support for people with autism to find and sustain employment.

The new assessments for ESA (and PIP when it is implemented) do not make reasonable adjustments to take into consideration the social and communication impairments that people with autism face. ATOS assessors do not have adequate training in autism and the centres do not take into account the sensory needs of people with autism.

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Autism affects 1 in 100 people in the United States. When we compare autism to the following diseases or disorders below we see that autism is severely underfunded. This leaves families desperately searching for resources and services. This leaves adults with autism hanging with no resources or no hope for any type of a future and the government hasn't seemed to notice or care.

- Leukemia: Affects 1 in 1,200 / Funding: $277 million;

- Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 100,000 / Funding: $162 million;

- Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 300 / Funding: $394 million;

- Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $156 million;

- Autism: Affects 1 in 110 / Funding: $79 million.

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Early cord clamping (ECC) is defined as any method by which the cord is manipulated to stop the flow of blood to the baby while it is still pulsating. This includes clamping, cutting, hand squeezing, tying or holding the baby too high or too low. An umbilical cord pulsates for between 7 mins for an unmedicated birth and up to 20 mins for a medicated birth.

In this time the full volume of blood the newborn infant requires is still passed from the placenta until it stops pulsating or until it turns white. Currently mainstream procedure is to immediately (within 30 seconds) clamp and cut the babys functioning cord. Whenever a pulsating umbilical cord is clamped, 20-60% of the baby's total blood volume is trapped inside the placenta. It will take over 6 months for the baby to replenish the volume of blood lost by early cord clamping.

Short cord, maternal haemorrhage, c-section, respiratory distress are just a few of the worthless reasons to clamp a cord. Even a baby in distress can be revived with the cord intact. All of the restricted umbilical cord problems are usually the result of drugs given during labour, including oxytocin, Pitocin, iv fluids, and pain medications, not a result of leaving the cord intact. The only situations in which a cord should be early clamped is when the cord has torn or with a placenta previa. Babies born via c-section can be delivered with their cord and placenta intact.

Multiples can also be delivered without risk of restricted umbilical cord problems. ECC is also routinely being done in some countries to get stem cell blood for banking (effectively taking those cells away from your baby when it needs it and possibly using for them at a later stage but mostly for other people). Restricted umbilical cord problems associated with anaemia are Autism, heart perforations, thyroid disorders, brain tumours, leukaemia, SIDS, hormonal imbalances and liver/kidney disease. When a baby requires to be resuscitated which is not that uncommon (1 in 16), the full volume of blood is required to ensure they are receiving the maximum dose of oxygenated blood.

As the blood travels into the baby's expanding lungs, once they become filled, the baby will feel its own signal to breathe and will do so with fully expanded lungs but it is usually procedure during "resuscitation" also to cut the cord, take the baby to a warming tray to make access easier for the attending midwifes, OBs etc which is not a necessity and is counterproductive. Please sign this petition in the hope that we can educate all birth attendants that early cord clamping is doing more harm than good and the practice should be abolished completely.

The baby's umbilical cord should be left at the very minimum until the cord has stopped pulsating. Another 20mins in a birthing unit is not too much to ask. First DO NO HARM. Check out this link for further information http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/restricted-umbilical-cord-problems.html

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This petition has been created by members of Lanarkshire ACE who are worried that some proposals by the coalition government to review benefits levels may adversely impact on people with learning disabilities, autism and aspergers. These reviews includes changes to the Disability Living Allowance.

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My son is 9 and from the start of school there was no place
for him to "fit in" He has Aspergers, ADHD, Reactive
Attachment disorder, speech and language issues and
profound sensory processing issues. He however does not
have an intellectual disability so he is not eligible for Special
school.

He is a gorgeous boy, with so much potential to learn in
the right environment. The QLD school system has let him
down so badly he is now attending a private school, paid for
by his family and by donations, who needs the funding he
receives from main stream school (even though he only
attends there 4 hours a week, with me present) to be used
for a Teachers aide for him at his new school, where he
feels safe and is completing school work and attending
occupational therapy and speech therapy as well. My son
is extremely high needs and needs one on one, which this
school is unable to provide, BUT can provide the security
and safe environment for him to learn grow and prosper.

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My eldest son Jack is Autistic. I was advised last year that a pet would be good for Jack to help with his Autism and bring him out of himself and help teach him to care for somebody else, to help give him a sense of responsibility.

After a lot of research in October last year We got small Shih-tzu puppy for him. At the time we were living in a 2 bedroomed first floor flat owned by Notting Hill Housing Group, we recently moved to a 3 bedroom house with a garden owned by Notting Hill Housing Group. I

have just received a letter saying we must get rid of our puppy or face being evicted, Whilst living in the first floor flat we were allowed to have an Alsatian for 7 years who sadly passed away 4 years ago. Since getting our puppy(Gino) my son has completely changed and come out of himself, He is due to start a mainstream secondary school in September which is something I couldn't have predicted a year ago.

To take away Gino will cause him such heartbreak and trauma it could set him right back.Gino has changed Jacks life in so many ways for the positive, please help my family.

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We are calling for immediate equity in Autism education throughout Melbourne's metropolitan regions.

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They Count 2 is a campaign for the rights of Autistic Kids, we want more schools to help them, better jobs for them. Now not much people haven't got a clue of what Autism is and we want to get people aware of this situation.

These people aren't bad or scary, they just have problems which we can stop or control by giving them schools and jobs. Now sign up!

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Giving a Premature Birth child an immunization of Hep C is not necessary on the day they are born. Paediatrician should follow the recommended schedule of immunization recommended by Dr. Stephanie Cave.

Giving a child with a poor oxidative stress level 6 immunizations at one time clearly causes damage to the child's neurological system.

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In most of metropolitan Melbourne, autism specialist education is available into secondary school years. Melbourne's west is the exception, with only 4 years of autism specialist enrolment available at Western Autistic School.

Specialist schools work - this has been demonstrated overseas and interstate, and is allowed for in most of Melbourne, but only in Melbourne's west is an arbitrary limit of 4 years applied, and described as 'best practice'.

Depending on where you live, your autistic child might receive 6 years or 8, or (soon) up to year 12 of autism specialist school. Here in the west of Melbourne, a maximum of 4 years is available. There is no rational basis for this disparity.

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It's time for change.... Stand up for autism awareness in the UK: Campaign with Kevin Healey.

Three political leaders need to take more action for autism, and put autism on top of the political agenda.

Autism affects over 500,000 people in the UK. The recent autism ACT has only got over half a million and this is for professional training, more needs to be done urgently.

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I am a parent of a five year old child diagnosed with High Functioning Autism (HFA).

Since my son was diagnosed with his condition mid last year, I have learnt that increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed with HFA and Aspergers Syndrome and these kids struggle to survive in mainstream education as they get older. This is because their different learning style, social isolation, acute anxiety and various sensory sensitivities leads to many not being able to reach their full academic potential in the mainstream setting and this is a real shame because these kids are extremely intelligent.

I have been disturbed by the amount of parents I am meeting with HFA & Aspergers primary school kids of various ages, who are saying that mainstream high school will not be an option for their kids and that they plan to home school for high school.

I have also been shocked to hear from parents of HFA and Aspergers kids who have already finished high school, say how traumatised their kids are after finishing school, having withstood years and years of relentless bullying and now they struggle to function in the adult world. I think that we need to get small high schools set up in Australia specifically for students with HFA or Aspergers. At the moment in Australia there seems to be no other social schooling options other than mainstream for the kids at the higher end of the autism spectrum.

Now that there is hard evidence that these kids brains are wired differently and they have a different learning style to their neurotypical peers, educators need to consider this option. I also think it is unfair that these kids have to put up with high school bullying (as the statistics are that 90% of kids with ASD's get bullied at mainstream high schools). I know that many high schools have special ed units in them but other than learning difficulties, the playground is where the main problems are and these kids are being permanently mentally damaged by being made to withstand our system and ‘fit the mould’.

I am of the view that having a few small high schools with a modified curriculum tailoring to Aspergers and HFA in each state, could really benefit these kids and if large ASD friendly companies (such as banks, engineering, IT type firms) got on board with sponsoring kids for on the job work experience programs as part of the curriculum, it could lead to them having a real chance at succeeding at life and being less traumatised by not having to put up with neurotypical bullies.

Other countries such as the US and UK already have these types of high schools available as an option.
I find it incredible that this has not occurred here yet.
If you agree please sign this petition and it will be delivered to the Australian Federal Government.

UPDATE - 9/4/10 - For people in NSW, I have been informed that there is currently a Parliamentary Inquiry being held into the education of students with disabilities and special needs and they will still accept submissions from the public. I will be making a submission and encourage everyone else to do so as well as this will be another great way for people in NSW to get your concerns heard. The link to the inquiry details is -
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/47F51A782AEABBABCA25767A000FABEC

Also - If there is anyone who has a child with Aspergers / HFA currently struggling through mainstream high school and you are prepared to talk to the media please contact me via the petition link below as there has been some interest.

UPDATE 2/8/10 - The link to this petition has been forwarded on to all state education departments and federal ministers. I have received some correspondence back, generally saying that they have taken note of our concerns and will keep it in mind when formatting future policies. The petition will be closed down shortly after the federal election. Thanks to all for taking the time to sign it and I hope that we do see change in the not too distant future for all our kids sakes.

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Over the past decade the Manitoba Provincial Departments of Education, Health and Family Services have partnered with MFEAT ( Manitoba Families for Effective Autism Treatment) and St Amant to create a Pre-school and School age ABA program.

Many families have benefited from the success of these programs. Many of the these same families will lose critical ABA support services in Aug 2010. This complete cut off of ABA therapy will leave families and schools lost, struggling with a regression of learning and an increase in inappropriate behavior. Also family units will crumble unable to maintain the therapy that had provided much needed structure and positive tools to manage the many struggles of autism.

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As of today, the government is allowing approximately 90 billion dollars towards research funding for Autism.

There needs to be more money that goes towards this because when everything is accounted for (i.e. research, educational spending, medications, more health insurance coverage, etc.) 90 billion dollars is not near enough.

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The mother of computer hacker Gary McKinnon made an impassioned appeal to US president Barack Obama today after her son failed in his latest High Court bid to avoid extradition to America.

The 43-year-old, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome (AS), is wanted for trial on charges of hacking into US military networks.

His mother, Janis Sharp, has expressed fears that he could face a 60-year sentence in a tough US jail and would be at real risk of suicide because of his medical condition. She also fears she would never see him again.

But today Lord Justice Stanley Burnton and Mr Justice Wilkie, sitting in London, dismissed his claim for judicial review.

The Daily Mail has led a high-profile campaign to prevent Mr McKinnon's extradition which has received widespread backing from politicians, celebrities and civil liberties campaigners.

Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, North London, asked the court to overturn decisions of successive Home Secretaries allowing his extradition to go ahead.

He also challenged a refusal by Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), to put him on trial in the UK on charges of computer misuse. UK trial would allow him to avoid extradition.

Lord Justice Burnton said: 'For the reasons set out in the judgment the claims against the secretary of state and DPP are dismissed.' In a 41-page ruling, the judges said extradition was 'a lawful and proportionate response to his offending'.

Whether or not Mr McKinnon can appeal further will be decided at a later date.

Lord Justice Burnton said it was a matter that should be dealt with 'as expeditiously as possible', probably in September.

Mr McKinnon was not in court today to hear the judgment.
Gary McKinnon

Gary McKinnon, 43, today lost his appeal against extradition to the U.S.

Ms Sharp, said outside court: 'We are heartbroken. If the law says it's fair to destroy someone's life in this way then it's a bad law.'

She added: 'Our hope still lies with the Government. What more evidence do Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson need to understand what extraditing Gary would do to him, let alone us?

'Gary would not survive and I would never see my son again. All to oblige the Americans?

'If Gary's was such a dreadful crime, he should have been prosecuted and sentenced here years ago.

'Instead he's been left tortured by fear for seven years. Compassion can and must now prevail.'

She made an impassioned appeal to Barack Obama to halt attempts to extradite her son.

His lawyers today sent a letter to the U.S. President signed by 40 British MPs asking him to step in and 'bring this shameful episode to an end'.

She said: 'Stand by us and make this world a better place, a more compassionate place.
An affront to justice

'Obama wouldn't have this. He doesn't want the first guy extradited for computer misuse to be a guy with Asperger's, a UFO guy. He wouldn't want this.

'I'm just praying, please hear us, Obama, because I know you would do the right thing.

'I know you would have the strength to stand up and not have this.'

Lawyers for Mr McKinnon, who was told the decision yesterday, described him as an 'UFO eccentric' who had been searching for evidence of extra-terrestrial life, and described the idea that he was a danger to U.S. national security as 'a complete fantasy'.

Karen Todner, Mr McKinnon's solicitor, said: 'This ruling is hugely disappointing. But we shall not stop here.

'Alan Johnson still has the power to act. We have 28 days to review the judgment and will continue to explore every legal avenue until we achieve a just and proper result.

'The Government promised "ample protection" of individuals' rights, but we have yet to see this in practice.

'Extradition without effective safeguards is a denial of justice for every UK citizen.'

If sent to the U.S., Mr McKinnon is likely to receive a substantial prison sentence of up to 12 years, possibly served in a Supermax prison used for high risk inmates, and is unlikely to be repatriated to serve his sentence.

The U.S. authorities said Mr McKinnon was responsible for the 'biggest military hack of all time' that had been highly damaging and involved 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the U.S. Navy and Nasa.

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We would like to propose that Michelle Obama meet with Shannon Des Roches Rosa and Jennifer Byde Myers, two parents representing two different autism families' perspectives, and Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg and Lindsey Nebeker, two adults on the autism spectrum, to discuss creating an Autism Corps so as to address one of the most pressing needs of autism families and adult autistics: one-to-one in-home support.

While autism shouldn't be demonized, we need to be frank: having a child with autism is more stress than some families can handle, and being an autistic adult can be extremely difficult without in-home support. There often aren't enough trained professionals providing autism services -- and in areas where autism professionals are abundant, many families can't afford them. Those autism families and adult autistics have needs that take precedence over panels and promises and research; they need help getting through the day, and they need it now.

Michelle and Barack Obama have spearheaded a campaign to encourage service. Millions of energetic and idealistic young adults want work but can't find jobs. Our president has said that he "...believes we must work to guarantee that Americans with ASD [autism spectrum disorder] can live independent and fully productive lives and to assure that their families understand and are able to support a loved one with ASD."

We would like to discuss taking those three factors and combining them into a nationwide organization dedicated to training volunteers to aid kids and adults with autism: an Autism Corps based on the Teach For America urgent action model, with the goal of providing autism families as well as adult autistics in need with between four and fourteen hours of weekly care.

Autism Corps workers could be trained to help individuals with autism gain skills and independence, and have recreation opportunities. They could give their families some sorely-needed respite. They could give adult autistics critically needed help with in-home tasks and provide a link to the larger community. They could make a real difference for families approaching a breaking point. And, like Teach for America alumni, Autism Corps volunteers could gain a permanent interest and investment in autism rights and issues, thereby continuing to raise awareness of autism needs in general.

We believe that an Autism Corps model is the best way to support all families affected by autism. If you agree, and you think Michelle Obama should meet with Shannon Des Roches Rosa, Jennifer Byde Myers, Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg and Lindsey Nebeker to discuss the matter, then please sign our petition. Thank you.

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Approximately 4 million Americans have developmental disabilities. Some children with high needs, and others at age 21 move into the special needs and adult services category and should receive services through "Home and Community-based Waivers."  In almost all states waivers are not fully funded. This results in waitlists and lack of portability of services from one state to another and one county to another. 

The waitlist time periods can be anywhere from five to thirty years long (or more), depending upon the state and the type of service needed, such as job services, a community-based program, intensive medical needs, or a secure home in which to live.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals are on waitlists for Waiver services.  Few families can afford to pay out-of-pocket for these services (an average of $35,000 - $75,000) per year for host or group home placements because parents have had to leave careers to care for their children and pay for large medical bills. 

This petition is designed to get the attention and action by National Leaders and the President to resolve this problem.

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1 out of 150 children are diagnosed with Autism.

We want Missouri to become the 11th state to pass this legislation into LAW so that children in our state will no longer experience discrimination at the hands of insurance companies and receive appropriate access to the treatments and therapies they need and deserve!

State Senate Bill-SB167
State House Bill- HB 357

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School Districts often are not providing an appropriate educational setting for children with special needs. Parents have the right to voice their concerns without school district harassment. Please tell your stories to your state legislators and attorney general and others of interest.
thank you.

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