Fwd: ALERT: Statewide CARD Funding in Jeopardy

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From: acunnin5@...To: KBENNETT@...Sent: 3/29/2011 1:16:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: ALERT: Statewide CARD Funding in Jeopardy

Dear CARD Families and Supporters,

We have received this message from Carmen L Zaldivar, the legislative chair of the University of Miami CARD Constituency Board. We are under a severe budget threat and want to let all of our CARD families know of this. Cuts such as those proposed will, obviously, drastically curtail our services. As university employees, it is not appropriate for us as CARD staff to raise concerns with legislators. Rather, it is for those impacted by such cuts, you as voters, to share any concerns you may have with your elected representatives.

Jack

Jack , PhD, BCBA-DExecutive DirectorFAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilitiesjscott@... 561 251-4104

URGENT ALERT:

The Autism Programs in the state are being SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED!

Please email the following legislators and request more funding!!!

The House has cut the budget for the 7 Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) by 25% from last year’s working budget. The Senate by 10.2%. Please email the House Speaker Dean Cannon & Senate President Mike Haridopolos and ask them to provide more money to the PreK-12 Education appropriation chairs specifically to fund these programs.

Please also email the PreK-12 Education Appropriation chairs and thank them for their efforts but ask them to request more funding for the Autism Programs. Tell them that the programs membership has grown by about 15% from last year alone and any cuts will severely impede services from reaching our families. In fact, cuts will directly result in loss of clinicians and therefore services, placing families affected with autism once again on waiting lists and despair. Tell them the autism community is behind them in their efforts. Ask them to please request more money for the autism program in the state. Ask them to please help our families.

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Let’s make them aware of our needs. Let’s stand strong and united! Ask your family and friends to email as well!

Mike Haridopolos- Senate President haridopolos.mike.web@...

Senator , Chair Pre-K-12 Ed. simmons.david.web@...

Rep. Dean Cannon -Speaker of the House Dean.Cannon@...

Rep. Coley, Marti - Chair Pre-K-12 Ed. Marti.Coley@...