Autism Advocacy
Write Your
Representative
You can find out who your
representatives are at this website:
http://www.elections.illinois.gov/DistrictLocator/AddressSearch.aspx
Right now we are asking every one of
you to write to your local representatives and tell them about your family.
Tell them what your life is like, living with someone on the Autism Spectrum.
Send a Holiday Card, with your family's picture on it. Send a letter.
Tell them what you struggle with. Tell them your goals.
The point is to make them aware.
To put yourself out there, as a real human being with real struggles. Put
a face to Autism. Show them who you are, and show them your beautiful
child, so that when Autism is being discussed, your face can come to mind.
Autism isn't something that happens in Hollywood movies or on Larry King Live.
It's something that affects people right here in Rockford. It's something
that affects the voters of Illinois.
You don't have to be a professional
writer. Write as if you were writing to a distant family member, just to
tell them what's going on in your corner of the world. You don't need to
complain and whine. Just talk. Tell them about yourself. Tell
them about your family. Tell them about Autism.
YOU can make a difference!
A Place for Children A Call For Action!
November 10, 2008
Greetings
This letter is written to request your support and assistance!
The State of Illinois is cheating children in need!
As of today, the State of Illinois is not paying family child care providers,
early intervention practitioners or any other vendor of the Department of Human
Services. Essentially, the state is bankrupt. How can this be? I pay my taxes.
Don't you?
This lack of payment will result in day care providers closing their doors.
Early Intervention Providers will stop working as independent consultants. Other
social services, on which so many families have come to rely, will stop.
Please help me so that this does not happen. Help me advocate for the welfare of
children-especially those children, and their families, for whom the world is
already a challenge.
Don't let the services that children need end because our collective voice has
not been heard. Email or call the Governor's office. Let him know that we expect
the children of Illinois to come first. Let him know that we will not stand for
the corruption that has led to our great State being in its current financial
state. Help me as we fight for children!
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121
TTY: 888-261-3336
http://www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm
Sincerely,
.
Erin Austria, President
A Place for Children
Home and Community Services
SB 3022
Funding for home and community Services:
Senator Halvorson
Please go to
www.familysupportnetwork.org For more information on this Bill
Quick links
To read Bills & Legislation visit
http://ilga.gov/legislation/
Search by number of the bill or keyword “Autism”
Legislator Lookup
Who is your elected official? Search by district, legislator, and address.
http://www.elections.il.gov/DISTRICTLOCATOR
Autism License Plates
We are still looking for people to email us if they are interested in the
“Autism License Plate”
HB(P.A. 95-0226)
Proceeds will benefit an autism research fund established by a previous tax
check off
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plate No:
To:info@autismillinois.org
We need 850 requests…
Blue
Print for System Redesign in Illinois:
7 year comprehensive
action plan.
• Eliminates the wait
list-support 2500 more individuals annually.
• Lowers the number of people living in institutions
• Bans the opening of group homes for more than 6 people
• Provides more necessary supports so those with developmental disabilities can
stay in their communities near their loved ones
For more information
visit:
www.state.il.us/agency/icdd
***************************************************
Tax Breaks for Special
Needs Kids
Please follow the link and read the petition regarding
tax breaks for families with special needs children, and sign if you support
the idea. Pass it along to anyone you think might be interested, whether they
have special needs children or not.
http://www.petitiononline.com/txbrk456/petition.html
Thank you.
President Bush Announces FY 2009 Budget Priorities
Thursday, February 14, 2008
By: Carin Yavorcik
Plan proposes cuts to research and services
On Monday, February 4th, President Bush released his final proposed budget,
laying out the Administration’s plans and priorities for FY 2009.
The president’s budget provides no new funding for the Combating Autism Act, and
level-funds or cuts many important autism and disability-related programs.
Specifically, the Administration’s budget provides only $16.1 million for the
CDC’s autism program - a 0.5 percent cut from last year, and almost $2 million
less than the amount recommended under the Combating Autism Act. The budget also
provides no new increases for autism research at the National Institutes of
Health or autism programs at the Department of Health and Human Services Health
Resources and Services Administration.
The proposed budget also calls for the elimination of the Supported Employment
State Grant program, cuts funding for the Office of Disability and Employment
Policy by more than half, reduces programs for supported housing for people with
disabilities by 30 percent, and proposes more than $17.3 billion in cuts to
Medicaid, most of which will be shifted to the states.
The president’s plan increases IDEA funding by $337 million; however, the
proposed level of $11.3 billion is $10.2 billion short of the amount called for
by the authorizing legislation enacted in 2004. The Institute of Education
Sciences funding for special education studies and evaluations was cut from $11
million to $9 million.
The Administration’s budget is only the first step in the lengthy appropriations
process, as Congress will respond with its draft of a budget highlighting its
priorities. Furthermore, in this year of highly charged presidential politics,
many of the more controversial proposals and reductions will fall by the
wayside.
In light of the proposed budget, it is more important than ever that elected
officials know that autism is a priority - both those running for and already in
office. The Autism Society of America will be working to increase funding for
many of these key programs, and to ensure that autism has a voice in Washington
and beyond.
