NEWS
ASA Meets with Presidential Transition Team
Thursday, January 15, 2009
By: Marguerite Colston
Administration pledges to work in partnership with autism/disability community
On January 2, 2009, Lee Grossman, ASA President and CEO, and Barbara Newhouse, ASA Chief Operating Officer, were invited to participate along with representatives from Easter Seals, TASH, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Speaks and the Dan Marino Foundation in a meeting with members of President-Elect Obama’s transition team to share policy issues and concerns that are important to the autism community. Kareem Dale, Disability Coordinator/Liaison in the Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs Department, who led the meeting on behalf of the transition team, was clear in his message to all participants that we are a “partner in this Administration,” with this meeting as a “beginning” with more to come as we seek ways to work together within the autism community and across the broader disability community to address disability-related issues.
The new Administration seems sincere in its efforts and willingness to listen and act upon our concerns in an effort to improve the quality of life for those with autism and the greater disabilities community. We felt encouraged by the meeting and look forward to continuing to support the efforts of our new President and his Administration. We will continue to communicate updates to you as this work progresses. Please continue, as many of you have, to submit your comments to http://www.change.gov/.
Our best chance in over a decade to make a real difference!
Please Help Us Make President Obama's Autism Priorities a Reality for All
Affected by Autism!
Our new president has outlined his national disabilities agenda - and
autism is the only condition highlighted specifically!
We've never had an opportunity as good as this in recent
history... we may never have one like it again.
Summary of the Obama Administration's Autism Agenda:
1. Increased funding for research, treatment screenings, awareness,
and support.
2. Improved life-long services for children and adults with ASD.
3. Fund the Combating Autism Act to improve federal/state autism
programs.
4. Universal safe, secure ASD screenings for infants and 2-year-olds.
To read the Autism Agenda in its entirety, visit whitehouse.gov.
Now we need your most generous financial support so that we can build
upon our incredible momentum and rally the entire country to get
behind President Obama's autism goals!
Donate Now:
http://www.autism-society.org/site/R?i=5CaWUm-Z2JBeR4WolnNE4g..
Sincerely,
Lee Grossman
President and CEO
ASA Member since 1991
Parent of a son with autism
Autism Society of America | 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300 | Bethesda,
Maryland 20814-3067
Crysta Laville
ASA-SL Director