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e-Speaks || December 19, 2008
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Autism Speaks Approves $380,000 in Family Services Grants
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Autism Speaks' Board of Directors approved more than $380,000 in funding for 21 new Family Services Community Grants, for a total of over $1.4 million in such grants to date. These grants will help community organizations across the country expand existing programs and create new programs that improve and enrich the lives of individuals with autism. Read more
here
and find a summary of funded programs
here.
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UN/DPI Approves Autism Speaks NGO Association
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The United Nations Department of Public Information (UN/DPI) has approved Autism Speaks' application for association. Autism Speaks is the first and only autism organization to become a non-governmental organization associated with the DPI, and as such will act as a liaison between the UN and the global autism community.
Read more.
Learn more about the United Nations DPI here
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Illinois Enacts Autism Insurance Legislation
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Congratulations to the families and autism advocacy organizations of Illinois on the state's enactment of Senate Bill 934, which requires private health insurance companies to cover up to $36,000 a year for treatments and therapies, including Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for children up to age twenty-one. With the enactment of this legislation, Illinois joins the ranks of states that have recognized the unfair and unreasonable burden being imposed on families of children with autism. To read more about the new law, visit www.autismvotes.org/illinois. To stay informed about 2009 federal and state autism insurance reform legislation, sign up for action alerts here.
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IACC Nears Completion of Strategic Plan for Autism Research
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The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), tasked by the Combating Autism Act of 2006 to coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorders, met on Dec. 12 in Rockville, Md. The agenda was devoted entirely to consideration of the Strategic Plan for Autism Research, which is comprised of six research areas aimed at addressing consumer-focused questions about autism.
Read more.
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Autism Speaks Recognizes Family Services Volunteers
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Two Family Services Community Liaison volunteers were recognized at the year-end family services meeting for their leadership in their local communities. Kristin Hubbard from N.C. was given the “Keep Those Resources Coming” award and Beth Sparr of Fla. received the “Above and Beyond” award.
Read more.
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Budding Artists and Authors: We Need You!
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Children ages 8-15 from across the country are invited to submit letters and illustrations for Malia and Sasha Obama which will become part of a book to be delivered to the first family on Inauguration Day. Fifty letters and 50 illustrations will be selected for the book. All proceeds from sales of the book will go to children's charities, including Autism Speaks. Original work should be scanned and sent to
editors@autismspeaks.org
for submission to the book's organizers. Autism Speaks will have no input into the selection; we are merely facilitating the submission process in the hopes that the book will include at least one letter or illustration from a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Click here
to print the submission template; all artwork must fit in this box. Letters can be on 8.5 x 11 lined notebook paper.
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Teacher Interviews Focus on Treatment Techniques
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Autism Speaks visited Public School 177 (PS-177) in Queens, N.Y. and interviewed three teachers, each of whom employs a different autism treatment methodology in the classroom, including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), The Miller Method and Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children (TEACCH). View these new educational videos
here.
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Holiday Tips for Special Needs Children
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As many of our families prepare to celebrate the holidays, members of the Autism Speaks community have provided tips to ensure that children with autism have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
Read more
and
share your suggestions
on our social network.
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Last Chance to Order Holiday Gifts and Save 15%
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It's not too late to order gifts for the holidays! As a special thank you to all of our supporters, take 15% off your total order* by entering the code 15YE2008 at checkout. Orders received by midnight Monday, Dec. 22 will arrive in time for Christmas.
Shop
for great holiday gifts now! *Please note that this discount applies to items for sale in the Autism Speaks Gift Catalog (excludes ties, scarves and ID kits).
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In Their Own Words: Christmas Miracles
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In our latest "In Their Own Words" essay, a mother tells how her son with autism's reaction to a Christmas song shows how far he has come over the past eight holiday seasons.
Read more.
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e-Speaks Resumes Jan. 9, 2009
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Due to the holidays, e-Speaks will not be sent for the next two weeks. e-Speaks will return bi-weekly beginning on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009.
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Donate Now • Contact Us
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