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WELCOME ...
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Dear Friends and Members, Chapter Meetings
When: 1st Tuesday of each month |
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Read our current newsletter for August 2008
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Petition Asks for Tax Break for Special Needs FamiliesAs special families, I believe we need all the help we can get!!! If you can agree with this statement, please sign the petition. As of July 01, 2007 there are 7,664 signatures...let's see if we can get it up into the HIGH THOUSANDS! Forward this to your other lists/friends with special kids!! |
Autism is a neurological disorder that can significantly affect one’s ability to communicate, to reason, and to interact with others. It is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees of severity. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 150 children born today will have some form of autism, a statistic that represents a profound increase over recent years.
The Autism Society of Greater Cleveland (ASGC) is our local branch of The Autism Society of America (ASA), the largest and oldest grassroots organization advocating on behalf of the 1.5 million Americans living with autism. The ASGC is a volunteer organization that provides support and guidance to those with autism spectrum disorders and their families and caretakers.
ASGC Mission Statement: “To serve the autism community by providing information, coordinating support services, and facilitating communication for the benefit of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders from diagnosis through adulthood.”
New ASGC programs for this year include autism training of student aides and teachers of religion to allow easier access for those with autism, more resources for parents with a new diagnosis and autism education for police and other first responders that may save lives.
We can’t make any of this happen without the support of donors like you. The Autism Society of Greater Cleveland is an Ohio-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
The full report of the Ohio Autism Taskforce is now available!
Please contact your state senator and state representative as soon as possible to set up a meeting with them to discuss the recommendations - either in Columbus after the rally or in your home district. If you aren't able to set up a meeting - please write your legislators. There are 43 different recommendations that cover the spectrum of persons with autism and services for them and their families. Pick the two or three that you are most passionate about and speak to your legislators about those. Your meeting should be short - 15 minutes or less. Have a "bullet point" type list to speak from. Have your information in writing, as well as a copy of the report to give them so that they can refer to it at a later date. Tell a brief personal story of how you are directly impacted by the lack of a particular service. Any letters should be no more than one - two pages. Be clear and to the point! Remember - we want to win legislators over to support our issues, not beat them up or abuse them about the lack of services. Keep the meeting positive!
Not sure how to find your state legislators? Visit www.house.state.oh.us, click on "Your Representatives" and enter your zipcode. Visit www.senate.state.oh.us, click on "Your Senators" and enter your zipcode.
The next several months will be critical in reaching legislators with this important message. So please make an appointment today - or send a letter if you are unable to set up a meeting.
