Ohio Autism Awareness rally 4/2/08 - press release!!

[Guest guest]

APRIL 2

WORLD AUTISM DAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2008

CONTACT: Doug Krinsky (Parent of a child with Autism)

(614) 882-8763

(614) 554-0802 yogi1125@...

Autism Awareness Rally Planned at Ohio Statehouse

April 2nd event is 5th Annual Rally

The Centers for Disease Control now reports that the incidence of autism in the United States is 1 in 150 children. There are over 10,000 families in Ohio dealing with this urgent public health problem every day. Ohio individuals with autism, advocates, families, and state legislators will gather for the Autism Awareness Rally at the Statehouse in April, which will be declared by Governor Ted Strickland as Autism Awareness Month in Ohio.

Rally participants will be calling for immediate legislative action to respond to this growing health crisis, including passage of HB 170 Health Insurance coverage, a Senate companion bill of HB 170, a Medicaid Waiver and many other issues. The rally will take place on the South Lawn of the Statehouse at 11 a.m. until 12:30 PM on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, which has been declared WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY BY THE UNITED NATIONS!

The following people will be speaking at the rally:Ken Carano, Governor Strickland's Regional Director - Region 12, NE OhioState Senator (D - 30, St. Clairsville) L. , Director of the Ohio Department of MRDD

Barb Yavorcik - Co-President of Autism Society of Ohio, Parent of a child with AutismState Senator Steve Stivers (R - 16, Columbus) Connelly, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Executive DirectorDr. Becky on - Oakstone Academy in Columbus, Founder, with students

State Representative Ted Celeste (D - 24, Columbus)Mrs. Georgia Backus - The Rich Center at Youngstown State University, DirectorState Representative Bacon (R - 21, Columbus), Parent of a child with Autism

Dr. Wynn - Nationwide Children's Autism Center, Director Hendrix - Director of State Advocacy Relations, Autism Speaks, Parent of a child with AutismTom Lather - Ohio Dept. of Education - Office of Exceptional Children, Interim Director

Sophia Augier - Parent of 3 boys with Autism State Representative Jon (R - 2, Delaware), Parent of a child with AutismThe Autism Society of America and Autism Speaks do not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services from any of the groups or companies listed below that will have tables at the rally:

Autism Speaks, Autism Society of Ohio, Autism Society of America - Central Ohio Chapter, Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Center for Autism, Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Autism, Haugland Learning Center and Consulting, Columbus Public Schools - Reach Program, Habilitation Services, Milestones Organization, School Choice Ohio, Bittersweet Farms, ODMRDD, OCALI, COFEAT, DAFEAT, Outrun Autism, Disability Resource Network, The Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University, Oakstone Academy and Community School, Potential Development Program Inc., MetDESK, Hattie Larlham Center for Children, Dayton Autism Society, Autism Center of Southeastern Ohio (ACSO), Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC), Columbus Speech & Hearing Center, Relate & Grow, KidsLink Neurobehavioral Center, Aspirations - Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University

_______________________Jessie Beauvais