Autism Awareness Month 2012

It's been a bit wild lately if you think about autism all the time with both the Michigan insurance bill clearing the House and the CDC coming out with new figures (1 in 88 now) all on the same day.  . 

If you've been following the Marquette Autism Spectrum Support Group Facebook page, Pam's been posting information about the Michigan Bill.  Latest is that it will likely be signed by Govenor Snyder on World Autism Day, April 2.  Autism Speaks has a campaign in place to have monuments lit up in blue light in support of autism awareness that day.  I hear there are plans to light up the Mackinac Bridge. 

I've sent out an e-mail blast if you're on my list about the meeting tomorrow and other upcoming autism awareness events coming up.  The Marquette Monthly was kind enough to publish a short article on local autism happenings that you can read here.

Advocates push for medical coverage for autism treatments - News - Source Newspapers

Here's some good coverage of the House committee discussion last week.  As I'm sure we all know, the Michigan Senate has passed this bill.  Not sure when it will go to vote in the House.  Similar bill passed the House a couple of years ago and got stalled in the Senate. 

Advocates push for medical coverage for autism treatments - News - Source Newspapers

Call for Applicants: Leadership Training for Autistic College Students

If you're interested in this program, so act quickly as the deadline is close at hand.  The following is the information that was forwarded to me:

The ACI Summer Institute is a week-long training for Autistic college students.

The training is meant to prepare students to engage in self-advocacy and pro-neurodiversity activism on their college campuses.

 

Who is eligible for the ACI Summer Institute? Any current Autistic college student in the United States is eligible to attend.

Students should have at least one more year remaining in college. Because of the support we are receiving from our partners,

we are offering this institute at no cost to the students chosen for the program, including travel accommodations, room and board.

The institute will take place August 12th through August 17th in Baltimore, MD.

 

What will participants learn at the ACI Summer Institute? With curriculum based on our collaboration with the Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation in the Empowering Disabled Leaders handbook and materials produced and developed with the help of University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability, the participants will learn how to engage in activism and advocacy activities on their college campuses.

 

Applications are due by March 30, 2012 with accepted applicants being contacted in May 2012. If you feel you would like to participate, please fill out the application< http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109287901487&s=6257&e=001O3DGtmWd1tWaZbOGbUmCNV9jRYPhUNzfNIhB4Z9Zbh8LHtdZfX-uzMVMeFHVnz38c6GoMrv18209xxvQQlvxkyL6Hyh1F7fe10ZofMVuSYvbSooKVkfQ49tThim54SsOWXzz7IKVpyPIUsPPX-JHEY6adDo7j8kGQ_B7xElCy8s= > and submit it with your responses to the essay questions and your resume to Melody Latimer at   mlatimer@autisticadvocacy.org < mailto:mlatimer@autisticadvocacy.org . 

All questions should also be directed to Melody.

I also found this website with more information.  

Library display

Heidi and I set up the autism awareness display in the case on the main floor of the Peter White Public Library.  It's not perfect, but a start.  If you get a chance, check it out and let me know if you have something to add.  I'll be tweaking in in the next few days.  It will remain up through the month of April. 

Michigan Budget Proposal Includes Autism Spending | LifeHealthPro

Michigan Budget Proposal Includes Autism Spending | LifeHealthPro

Michigan's 3 bills

If you haven't seen our new facebook page, you've missed a linked article from Pam.  So here it is,  from the Detroit Free Press, on the three autism bills now proposed in the Michigan legislature.  I did manage to catch part of the teleconference with Tom Casperson that the Great State Collaborative planned.  I asked him where he stood and he is in support of passing at least one of these bills.  Seems like the momentum is there now for something to move forward.