E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

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UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#9119

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"Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982."

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April is National Autism Awareness Month and is right around the corner!

THE POWER OF ONE! IDEA is coming to WASHINGTON, DC

with an event that is FREE and OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Unlocking Autism will be in Washington, DC again this year on April 21st hosting The Power of ONE! IDEA Rally on the Mall between 3rd and 4th streets. The rally is being cosponsored and underwritten this year by Cure Autism Now, The Autism Society of America, The New Jersey Center for Outreach & Services for the Autism Community, The Autism Coalition for Research and Education, The Vaccine Injury Alliance, Youth Consultation Services: Sawtelle Learning Centers, SAFE Minds and Medical Interventions in Autism.

Last year, the theme of the rally was "The Power of ONE!" and the purpose was to remind everyone that they do personally possess the power to make a difference not only in the lives of their own children but in the lives of all families affected by autism.

This year, we have expanded on the power of one theme and incorporated a

primary focus on I. D. E. A. In 1975, Congress passed the Education of the

Handicapped Act which served as the precursor for the law known today as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of the law was to ensure that individuals with disabilities had access to free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. The act set a goal for the Federal Government to provide states with 40% of their funding needed for special education programs.

Until 1997, with the reauthorization of IDEA, the funding hadn't even passed 8%. Since that time, disability groups have joined forces and have increased the funding last year to approximately 18% but we still have a long way to go to get the money through the Federal Government to make sure our children are receiving the services they deserve, and that the government said that they deserve all those years ago.

IDEA is important to everyone in every community whether they have a child with a disability or not. If the Federal Government doesn't provide the funding to the school systems, then states and counties are burdened with generating the funds to provide the services that they are required by federal law to provide, which in turn affects the funds available to all students in the public education system. It is in everyone's best interest to see IDEA fully funded.

IDEA is up for reauthorization during the 2002 Session. The leaders of the autism community this year thought it would be a good IDEA to discuss it in a public forum in Washington, DC at the rally this year!

We will kick off the rally with performances by the band Jonasay. Jonasay is a cutting edge quintet who spent much of 2001 touring with Hootie and the Blowfish. Their CD will be out in April and their clean smooth music packs a punch that everyone is sure to enjoy.

The Emcees of the event this year will once again be Jeana Smith with Unlocking Autism and Jeff Sell & Lee Grossman with the Autism Society of America.

Speakers will include from over 15 Different Organizations will include:

Shelley H. Reynolds - President, Unlocking Autism

Nancy H. Cale - Vice President, Unlocking Autism

Stephen Shore, Board Member, Unlocking Autism & Autism Society of America

United States Congressman Mike Doyle - Pennsylvania - 18th District United States Congressman Chris Smith - New Jersey - 4th District

Jonathan Shestack, President & Cofounder, Cure Autism Now

Kevin Murray, Founder, Autism Coalition for Research & Education Cliff Shoemaker, J.D., Vaccine Injury Alliance Dr. Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism James Ball, Ed. D.,Vice President, Autism Services, Youth Consultation Service Sallie Bernard, Ph.D., SAFE Minds Barbara Loe Fisher, President & Cofounder, National Vaccine Information Center Andrew Baumann, New York Families of Autistic Children Victoria Beck Veronica Bird Jeff Bradstreet, M.D., FAAFP, International Child Resource Development Ctr. Bill Davis, UA Pennsylvania State Representative Ray Gallup, President, Autism Autoimmunity Project Miss Sherri Grippo - Miss Jefferson County 2002 - West Virginia Jennifer Lassiter, UA Virginia State Representative & President, N. Virginia ASA April Oakes, President & Founder, Casi's Quest Miss Brandi Peterson - Miss Omaha 2002 - Nebraska Lenny Schafer, Editor, FEAT Online Newsletter Laura Weinburg

EMCEES:

Jeana Smith, Unlocking Autism

Lee Grossman, Autism Society of America

Jeff Sell, Autism Society of America

So, grab those blankets, pack a lunch and

head down to DC with your family for the rally on

April 21st.

We are planning a day of family fun!

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