FW: AJC Article, Emory Autism Center, BCW changes

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--Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 6 years old) For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. For previous advocacy email's, please go to the following website: http://www.lgtinc.org/authors/41/Heidi-J.-. To see how you can advocate for your child go to www.kidshealthcarega.org.

-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: "Heidi J. " <heidijmoore@...> heidijmoore@... Subject: AJC Article, Emory Autism Center, BCW changes Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:00:15 +0000

***************************Heidi J. Newsletter #3 January 13, 2008*******************************

Dearest Advocates:

This is the time of the year we need to start expressing and educating others on the issues surrounding children and adults with disabilities. As you know, the Georgia legislative session starts this week and because of that there is more media attention to citizens concerns. I am very impressed that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) newspaper took an ACTIVE interest in making sure they include advocates/ volunteer lobbyists on disability issues and to be a part of a much larger article prior to the legislative session.

Please take a moment to thank AJC opinion reporter, Sonji s, (sjacobs@...) for having our issues be included in this special article. FYI: The article was in the @ Issue, Front page of the Sunday newspaper today! Also- give her suggestions on disability issues that the AJC can cover in the future (i.e. Beckett Waiver process, CMO continued concerns, Babies Can't Wait, lack of Medicaid providers and access to healthcare, burdensome application, appeal and claims process, eligibility within the disability community, etc)

Only through continued education and expressing our concerns and issues are we going to make a difference in the world our children and adults with disabilities live!

UNITED- WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

In addition- please see below an opportunity at the Emory Autism Center regarding sibling support group.

Also included in this newsletter is an update on the Babies Can't Wait Program in Fulton and Dekalb Counties.

Heidi J.

(Proud Mother to - 8 yrs old with Down syndrome and - 6yrs old)

***************************

AJC Article: " Can one citizen make a difference? " by Sonji s

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/opinion/stories/2008/01/13/citizen0113.html

2008 GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE GUIDE: Can one citizen make a difference? These volunteer lobbyists say yes, especially when they work together.By Sonji sThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished on: 01/13/08

The first time Martha Hinson went to the state Capitol to push for a bill, she asked legislators to approve a proposal that would guarantee education for special-needs children, such as her son, Jerry, who was born mentally impaired.

That was more than 30 years ago.

Since then, she has lobbied every year for and against education bills, particularly those pertaining to students with disabilities. She has gone from being simply a concerned parent to being a savvy citizen lobbyist, someone who can rattle off bill numbers and spot legislators across crowded hallways.

Last year, she was at the Capitol to oppose a bill that would create vouchers for students with special needs to go to private schools. Hinson -- a member of the state's largest teachers union who works with autistic children as a paraprofessional at Forest Park Middle School -- argued that "public money for private education" is not the best solution for educating children with disabilities. That measure passed, but Hinson said she still feels that she can make a difference.

"I feel that the one thing I can give children is working to help educate them," Hinson said. "We have to make people on higher levels, like lawmakers, understand how important that is."

Each year during the legislative session, hundreds of ordinary Georgians take time off from their day jobs and trek to the state Capitol to influence how the state spends their tax dollars. With the 2008 session set to begin Monday, hundreds of concerned citizens are gearing up to attend rallies, testify during committee meetings and try to sway the votes of lawmakers.

Some of the state's most committed and passionate citizen advocates first got involved in the hurly-burly of the Legislature because of an issue affecting a loved one, often a child. Others decide to get involved because of a cause -- saving the environment or abolishing the death penalty or banning abortions. Many of those folks come to the Capitol as volunteers with an established advocacy group. Still, they differ from the throngs of well-heeled lobbyists who pack the Capitol in that they work for free, often hold other full-time jobs and have little or no money to wine and dine lawmakers. They lobby because they believe in an issue, and they believe their voice counts.

Mark Woodall, a commercial timber farmer, first went to the state Capitol to advocate nearly 20 years ago. It was January 1990, and the state was considering proposals to build a hazardous waste incinerator in County, about 100 miles south of Atlanta. Woodall, who lives in adjacent Talbot County, and other neighbors battled the legislation for nearly five years, until they defeated it. That experience inspired him to continue advocating for environmental policies, such as a comprehensive state water plan, at the Capitol.

"We changed the hazardous waste policy in the state of Georgia," said Woodall, who is now a volunteer lobbyist for the Sierra Club. "It's really important for people to pay attention to what's going on the Legislature. If there aren't concerned people there to contest the big-money lobbyists, things would be worse than they already are."

Sometimes, various organizations with similar legislative goals join together to work on issues. A few years ago, the leaders of several women's groups began meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday mornings to discuss issues, learn lobbying techniques and talk to lawmakers. Those meetings led to the creation of Women in the Halls, a program sponsored by Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Georgia to teach ordinary women about the legislative process and how they can express their views to lawmakers.

Fran , who volunteers as the state public affairs chairwoman for the National Council of Jewish Women, began attending the Tuesday meetings. Like Planned Parenthood, the NCJW supports comprehensive sex education, access to contraception and abortion rights. This year, the two groups plan to work together to advocate for legislation to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the state.

"I have always known that there is safety in numbers," said. "Working in coalitions is much more valuable. To reinvent the wheel every time is just not an effective use of time."

Brittany Nels, a 21-year-old nursing student who lives in Alpharetta, will be at the Capitol for the first time this year as a Georgia Right to Life volunteer. Nels has helped out in the GRTL office, but this year will be working as a citizen lobbyist. She admits that the Capitol seems overwhelming and confusing, but she said she feels strongly about lobbying in support of House Resolution 536, a proposed constitutional amendment that would declare human life sacred from the moment of fertilization to natural death.

"I'm very excited about making my voice heard at the Capitol," Nels said.

Expect highs, lows

When Heidi of Alpharetta first began talking to lawmakers in 2003 about ways in which the state could help middle-income families with special needs children, she had a network of about 150 other concerned parents. Now, 's advocacy network is comprised of more than 2,500 people.

Though her work in the legislature began after her son, , was born with Down syndrome, she says her commitment and passion extend beyond him.

"I'm doing this not only for my son, but for the thousands of other kids out there," said. "I hear how families feel hopeless. But if we can combine our efforts, we truly can make a difference."

Many of Georgia's citizen lobbyists say they have learned that persistence and patience are critical to making an impact at the Gold Dome. They also say to expect highs and lows in the political process.

For five years, Steindorf and other parents successfully lobbied to protect a foreign language program in public elementary schools. Her children, who are now in eighth and 10th grades, had studied Japanese at Mimosa Elementary in Roswell. Last spring, though, Gov. Sonny Perdue axed the $1.5 million program from the state's $20.2 billion budget. Perdue, in his veto message, argued that the more-than-a-decade-old program helped children in only 29 schools.

Instead of funding teachers for those schools, he said he wanted to send each elementary school in the state $1,200 to buy foreign language materials.

Steindorf said it was an uphill battle for many years to protect the program, and said she and other parents are going to take some time this year to rethink their strategy. For other Georgians thinking about entering the political fray, she offers the following advice:

"You have to be there. You have to be physically present, and you have to know who the legislators are. You have to step up and tell them your story."

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Heidi of Alpharetta: "Families often feel lost, confused. They don't feel empowered then. But it's amazing what we'll do for our children if we see a need in society."

Steindorf of Roswell: "It can be hard to talk to the people you want to see, because they're getting stretched and pulled in a hundred different directions. But it's best to talk to the decision-makers face to face."

Martha Hinson of Conley: "My experiences on the whole have been very positive. At least I'm able to get my point across and, in doing so, educate our legislators about our educational needs."Mark Woodall of Woodland in Talbot County: "The ordinary citizen can make a difference if they talk to their legislators and go to the state Capitol with others who are concerned about an issue."

Emory Autism Center Opportunity:

Sibling Support Group!

Does your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder have a brother or sister between the ages of 10 and 14? Could this sibling benefit from learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorders? Would they enjoy the opportunity to share their feelings and experiences with other siblings? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this may the group for your child.

Emory Autism Center is offering monthly meetings for siblings ages 10 to 14 who have a brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. The group meets the third Thursday of every month from 4:30 to 6pm at the center free of charge. Activities, food and drinks will be provided.

Siblings can participate in activities designed to build skills and provide brothers and sisters of children with autism spectrum disorders an opportunity to meet other siblings in a relaxed, recreational setting. The group will give siblings an opportunity to get to know other siblings, learn how to interact better with their brother or sister, discuss issues with other siblings, learn more about autism spectrum disorders, and most of all, have fun and play games!

Our first meeting of the year is on Thursday, January 17, from 4:30 until 6 pm. If you are interested, please contact Scholz to get on the "evite" list: jscholz@... or 404-727-8350. We look forward to having your child in our group!

Emory Autism Center is located on the Clairmont Campus of Emory University: 1551 Shoup Court, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Babies Can't Wait Program - Fulton and Dekalb County Update!

From :

Here is an update on the privatization of the Babies Can't Wait program.This time it affects Dekalb and Fulton Counties. Easter Seals has a contract which will go into effect 10 days from the posting date barring any protests of the bid. The notice of intent to award this contract to Easter Seals North Georgia was announced by the Department of Administrative Services on 1/8/08.

http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PublicBidNotice?bid_op=084270042700-025-0000003449

For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com

"Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!"

The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative.

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