Dear Virginia Autism Advocate's,

It's hearing time and we need all hands on deck!  All Virginia autism advocates interested in getting $36,000 a year in private insurance coverage for autism treatments and therapies for your children need to be in Richmond next Monday, September 29, 2008!

Join us in the General Assembly Building, House Room D on the Capitol Grounds in Richmond on Monday, September 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm as the autism insurance initiative is reviewed by the Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits.  The members of the commission, which includes many of your Virginia legislators, need to see with their own eyes how important this is to you. 

Your physical presence in Richmond is imperative to launch the autism insurance initiative!  This is our first opportunity to make a lasting impression on Virginia's legislators!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. TAKE THE DAY OFF! Explain to your employer how important this is to you and your family and plan on attending the meeting in person.  We encourage you to bring your children if you would like but are asking that you not bring them into the hearing room during the hearing itself.

2. WEAR RED AND GO GREEN!  We want to stand out and be bright and bold as we advocate for our children so wear something red! And Go GREEN - carpool, fill up your minivans, Suburbans and Tahoes and show up in droves to show the commission we mean business. We need a minimum of 400 people in attendance to send that message.

3. SHOW THEM A SIGN! Bring a small handheld poster that says "Cover Our Kids" or "End Autism Insurance Discrimination".  Including a picture of your child on the poster will make your message even stronger.

4.  FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT to everyone you know! As parents, you know everyone is always saying, "If there is ever anything we can do, let us know!" So let them know now!  Forward this email to your family members, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, therapists, neighbors and co-workers who live in Virginia and tell them that they can support you in your efforts to secure autism insurance coverage for your children by coming to this hearing in Richmond on Monday!

5. SIGN UP TO HELP on www.autismvotes.org to keep receiving action alerts and updates on the progress of this initiative in Virginia.

Let’s keep the fire marshal busy by packing out the hearing room and sending a strong, clear message that the discrimination against our loved ones must come to an end.  

For more information on the Virginia autism insurance initiative, go to www.autismvotes.org/virginia!  

See you in Richmond!

Judith Ursitti
Regional Director of State Advocacy Relations
Autism Speaks