Information on First ASA Day on the Hill

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of ASO:

Information from the ASA regarding the "Day on the Hill", October 18. ASO Board Member and Director of the Rich Center in Youngstown, Georgia Backus, along with a group from the Rich Center attended the event. She said that it was a fabulous opportunity to meet with legislators and put a face and a story to autism and our needs in Ohio at the federal level. ASA will be scheduling additional days like this in the future. We will be providing information about those dates, as well as updates on pending federal legislation. Please sign up to be part of our legislative alert network by sending your name, address, zip+4, phone number, and email to askASO@.... Please put ASO MAILING LIST in the subject line.

You can also visit our website for updates on the OAT (Ohio Autism Taskforce) recommendations and state pending legislation.

Make your voice heard!

Sincerely,

Barbara C. YavorcikPresidentAutism Society of Ohio701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...home: byavorcik@...web: www.autismohio.org Please note: This is provided for information purposes only. The ASO does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services. Providing this information should not be construed as an endorsement by the ASO, either explicit or impiled.

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First Annual ASA Day on the Hill a Big SuccessParticipants Make In-roads on Autism with RepresentativesASA scheduled its first annual "A Day on the Hill,"Tuesday, October 18, a program that looks to further educate ASAmembers for active and effective participation at both the local andfederal government levels. Participants came to Washington to receivetraining on effective advocacy, as well as attend briefings by keylegislators and legislative staff.Following the training, participants spent the afternoon meeting withtheir state's representatives and legislators, as well ascongressional staff, to put a face and a voice with the autismcommunity; many reported successful and candid discussions about theneeds of those affected by autism. After the meetings, ASA hosted areception to honor and present awards to members of Congress who haveproven themselves legislative champions for the autism community.Several members were on-hand to personally accept their awards,including long-time autism advocates Reps. Dave Weldon, MD, DanBurton, , Meeks, and Cannon, and staffersfrom the offices of Reps. Mike Doyle and Debbie Stabenow, Sen. nyIsakson and others. The events were well-attended, and sent a messageto Congress about the power of ASA's collective voice.

2005 ASA Congressional AwardsASA was proud to honor at "A Day on the Hill," thefollowing 26 members of Congress for their exemplary leadership,compassion, creativity, and courage with respect to improving thelives of all those affected by autism:For their years of support of the autism community:Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE)Sen. Joe Lieberman (CT)Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD)Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)Rep. (NJ-4th)Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-14th)Rep. Dan Burton (IN-5th)Rep. Dave Weldon (FL-15th)Rep. Ralph Regula (OH-16th)Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr. (OK-5th)Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-9th)Rep. Pallone Jr. (NJ-6th)For their support of disability and special education issues:Sen. Kennedy (MA)Sen. ny Isakson (GA)Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA)Rep. Kennedy (RI-1st)Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32nd)Rep. Tierney (MA-6th)Rep. N. Castle (DE-At-Large)Rep. Roy Blunt (MO-7th)Rep. Pelosi (CA-8th)Rep. Meeks (NY-6th)Rep. Van Hollen (MD-8th)For their work to protect the autism communities' access todietary supplements and other autism-related issues:Sen. Tom Harkin (IA)Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT)Rep. Cannon (UT-3rd)