HB83 Hearing on Monday

Again, my personal thanks to Jackson Miller from the Virginia House of Delegates for co-sponsoring this bill to support his friend Jimmy and other kids like him.

Dear Virginia Autism Advocate,

It's hearing time and we need all hands on deck! All Virginia autism
advocates interested in getting $36,000 a year in private insurance
coverage for autism treatments and therapies for your children need to
be in Richmond next Monday, September 29, 2008!

Join us in the General Assembly Building, House Room D on the Capitol
Grounds in Richmond on Monday, September 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm as the
autism insurance initiative is reviewed by the Special Advisory
Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits. The members of the
commission, which includes many of your Virginia legislators, need to
see with their own eyes how important this is to you.

Your physical presence in Richmond is imperative to launch the autism
insurance initiative! This is our first opportunity to make a lasting
impression on Virginia's legislators!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. TAKE THE DAY OFF! Explain to your employer how important this is to
you and your family and plan on attending the meeting in person. We
encourage you to bring your children if you would like but are asking
that you not bring them into the hearing room during the hearing itself.

2. WEAR RED AND GO GREEN! We want to stand out and be bright and bold
as we advocate for our children so wear something red! And Go GREEN -
carpool, fill up your minivans, Suburbans and Tahoes and show up in
droves to show the commission we mean business. We need a minimum of 400
people in attendance to send that message.

3. SHOW THEM A SIGN! Bring a small handheld poster that says "Cover Our
Kids" or "End Autism Insurance Discrimination". Including a picture of
your child on the poster will make your message even stronger.

4. FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT to everyone you know! As parents, you know
everyone is always saying, "If there is ever anything we can do, let us
know!" So let them know now! Forward this email to your family members,
aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, therapists, neighbors and co-workers
who live in Virginia and tell them that they can support you in your
efforts to secure autism insurance coverage for your children by coming
to this hearing in Richmond on Monday!

5. SIGN UP TO HELP on www.autismvotes.org
to keep receiving action alerts and updates on the progress of this
initiative in Virginia.

Let's keep the fire marshal busy by packing out the hearing room and
sending a strong, clear message that the discrimination against our
loved ones must come to an end.

For more information on the Virginia autism insurance initiative, go to
www.autismvotes.org/virginia !

See you in Richmond!

Judith Ursitti
Regional Director of State Advocacy Relations
Autism Speaks