| Autism Speaks e-Speaks contactus@autismspeaks.org via sm1.kintera.com | Mar 20, 2009, 12:03 AM |  | |
| to Genevieve |
e-Speaks || March 20, 2009 Autism Speaks Announces Autism Awareness Month Activities Autism Speaks announced its corporate and awareness activities for the month of April this week. April is Autism Awareness month and there are many ways to get involved around the country. Toys”R”Us, TJ Maxx, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Lindt, Discovery Health and more are supporting Autism Speaks this month. Read more about how you can get involved. Autism Speaks Plans Events to Mark World Autism Awareness Day Autism Speaks has announced a series of international events to mark the second annual celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, an unprecedented global effort to heighten awareness about autism. The April 2 events will take place on multiple continents and in venues ranging from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to the United Nations and the worldwide web, and are expected to generate significant national and international media coverage. Read more and visit the World Autism Awareness Day site.  Kickoff for a Cure IV Raises over $920,000  On March 11, over 300 guests gathered at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City for Kickoff for a Cure IV, an evening to benefit Autism Speaks and The Gillen Brewer School, which raised over $920,000. The evening’s honorees were Harold McGraw, III, Chairman, President and CEO, The McGraw-Hill Companies; Jeff Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles owner; Larry Babbio, former Vice Chairman & President, Verizon Communications, Inc.; and Eugene Napoleon, CEO / President of Nap Records and Nap Sports, LLC., and best-selling author of “Dream Real.” Read more and view photos of the event here. Also, watch a video about a teenager with autism and his dedicated football coach, who was honored at the event, here.Five More States Introduce Autism Insurance Reform Bills Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, and New York have all joined the lengthy list of states with autism insurance reform bill introductions in their state legislatures. Autism Speaks has now endorsed bills that require private insurance companies to provide coverage of medically necessary, evidence-based autism therapies, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), in a total of twenty-four states – nearly half the country. For more information and to take action on these newly endorsed bills, click the following links: Alaska – HB 187, Arkansas – SB 913 Colorado – SB 09-244, Connecticut – CB 301, New York – S. 2366, A. 6001.  Autism Speaks Publishes Family Connections Newsletter for Spring 2009 Autism Speaks Clinical Programs Department is pleased to announce the release of its annual newsletter, Family Connections. A major highlight for the year was the launch of the Online System for Clinical Research (OSCR) – a web-based data entry system built on the same technology used for the Interactive Autism Network (IAN). OSCR was developed as a tool to facilitate family participation and accelerate the pace of autism research. Read more. Autism Speaks Announces New Appointments to Scientific and Treatment Advisory Boards Autism Speaks aims to support only the most exceptional research and, to assist in this mission, calls upon top scientists and clinicians in the world to review research proposals. Under the direction of Chief Science Officer, Geri Dawson, Ph.D., Autism Speaks announces the appointment of new members to its Scientific and Treatment Advisory Boards. These groups are selected to generate a mix of those experienced in autism together with researchers from areas outside autism to increase the stimulation of new ideas and approaches. What they have in common is a strong commitment to improve the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. Read more. Community Connections Aids Families in Choosing Special Needs Camp Programs This month’s edition of Autism Speaks Community Connections, an online feature which offers practical suggestions to help individuals with autism, their families, and others have a positive experience in their local community, focuses on camp programs. Choosing the right summer camp for an individual with autism can be a challenging task; learn more and find a suitable camp in your area here.  Toronto Maple Leafs Host Autism Awareness Night  On March 12, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted Autism Awareness Night at the Air Canada Centre. Volunteers collected donations at the gate and handed out information about autism. The Autism Speaks logo was on display on the ice, the jumbotron and all over the arena as staff and sportscasters wore the puzzle pin. Read more and view photos here. Let Your Checks Speak for You Show your support for Autism Speaks when you write a check or use a debit card featuring our blue puzzle piece logo, through Bank of America’s MyExpression™ program. Autism Speaks receives a donation for every personal checking account that is opened and for every check card transaction. Read more.  Autism Speaks Chosen as Charity Partner for Chicago Marathon  The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has selected Autism Speaks as a charitable partner for the Oct. 19, 2009 event in Chicago, Ill. Members of Team Autism Speaks will band together to raise funds and awareness with support from Autism Speaks partner Train4Autism. Read more. Is Autism Speaks in Your Will? Have you included Autism Speaks in your will or other estate plans? We’d like to know. We’re forming a recognition society for those who intend to make a legacy gift to Autism Speaks. Please contact Rich Brown at (212) 252-8529 or rbrown@autismspeaks.org. If you are considering such a gift but want more information about tax benefits or other details, please contact Rich and he will be happy to speak with you. Why We Walk: Parker’s Journey and the Amazing Race On Sat. April 4, the spring season for Autism SpeaksU kicks off in State College, Penn. with the fourth annual “We Are … Curing Autism Now 5K Race/3K Walk” which raised over $160,000 in 2008. Due to its tremendous success, we are proud to announce three new Autism SpeaksU events at UConn, UMass and Univ. of Md. If you are a student or an alum of one of these schools visit events.autismspeaks.org/u/ to learn how to support both your alma mater and Autism Speaks today! Read more about the Penn State event in our latest “Why We Walk” essay, written by Robin Bierly, the mother of a child with autism, who has been an active participant all four years.  Coming Soon March 24 Nashville Predators Autism Awareness Night (Nashville, Tenn.) Northern Westchester New Team Captain Workshop (Mt. Kisco, N.Y.) March 25 Laurel Highlands Walk Now for Autism Kick-off (Latrobe, Penn.) March 26 Northern Fairfield Kick-off Cocktail Reception (Westport, Conn.) March 27 Pittsburgh Walk Now for Autism Kick-off (Pittsburgh, Penn.) March 28 New York City Walk Now for Autism Kick-off (Staten Island, N.Y.) Tampa Bay Walk Now for Autism (Tampa, Fla.) March 31 Westchester/Fairfield Walk Now for Autism Kick-off Luncheon (Rye Brook, N.Y.) April 2 Greater Hartford Walk Now for Autism Kick-off (Farmington, Conn.) World Autism Awareness Day April 4 Autism SpeaksU 4th Annual We Are … Curing Autism Now 5K Race/3K Walk (State College, Penn.) Bay Area Walk Now for Autism Kick-off (San Jose, Calif.) New York City Walk Now for Autism Kick-off (Bronx, N.Y.) West Texas Walk Now for Autism (Abilene, Texas) Showcase Your Written Talent on AutismSpeaks.org World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, will celebrate the unique talents and skills of persons with autism. In recognition of this event and Autism Awareness Month, we will be showcasing the writing of talented individuals on the autism spectrum on our website. Please send your short stories, poetry, and song lyrics to editors@autismspeaks.org for consideration. Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content. Because of the volume of submissions expected, not all can be published on the site. Plus, learn about more World Autism Awareness Day activities here or Walk with Wubbzy on the Web here. |
International Badass Activists 