Autism Awareness Month
April 1, 2009
Tacoma 2009 - Issue 1
It's Autism Awareness Month!
Hello Stella,
It is now April, which means Spring should finally be showing its head. Even more importantly - it is Autism Awareness Month!
In this issue, check out the following great information from your Pacific Northwest Autism Speaks:
- Save The Date
- Volunteer with Tacoma's Walk Now for Autism Event
- World Autism Awareness Day
- Toys "R" Us & Lindt Chocolates
- Advocacy Update
- Meet Justin!
Save The Date
Our 2009 Tacoma Walk Now for Autism event will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at Cheney Stadium!
You can start registering your teams and fundraising today! Our 2009 website is live and ready to go at http://www.walknowforautism.org/tacoma!
Volunteer with Tacoma's Walk Now for Autism Event
Our 2009 Tacoma Walk is getting organized now! If you are interested in volunteering and/or becoming part of our 2009 Committee Leadership Team, please let me know what area you would be interested in participating in. Just some of the examples of areas of need are listed below. Autism Speaks would love to have YOU join us to make this year's walk the best yet!
- * Volunteer Recruitment Committee - recruit and mentor new volunteers to join us on the day of the walk and to join our Volunteer Leadership Committee positions!
- * Walker Recruitment Committee - recruit and mentor new team captains, get local businesses and interested groups involved throughout our walk campaign, and spread the word about Autism Speaks right here in Washington!
- * Corporate Sponsorship Committee - create list of prospects and help to reach out to potential local sponsors.
- * Schools & Youth Committee - plan mini events and partner with local schools to volunteer before and on walk day and join us as fundraising teams!
- * Resource Fair Committee - recruit and build the Community Resource Fair featured at our walks.
- * Marketing & Public Relations Committee - responsible for many of the public relations and marketing aspects of the Walk event, including media relations, media sponsorships, and public service announcements.
- * In-Kind Donations Committee - secure food, beverage, and other important donations for our Walk Day festivities!
- * Entertainment Committee - recruit entertainers and develop creative activities for Walk Day.
World Autism Awareness Day
This Thursday, April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. It truly is a world event, with numerous countries commemorating the day by holding a plethora of special events. You can see all of the events at the World Autism Awareness Day website as well as virtually Walk with Wubbzy!
In addition, Autism Speaks will be in Olympia on World Autism Awareness Day to help educate and inform our elected representatives about Autism and why they need to get on board and support funding now!
Toys "R" Us & Lindt Chocolates
In April, Toys "R" Us and Lindt Chocolates are promoting some very special campaigns to raise awareness and money for Autism.
Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us locations nationwide are currently fundraising in all of their stores to benefit Autism Speaks. Stop in to your local store and see puzzle pieces everywhere! Also, Toys "R" Us has put together a great list of the "Ten Toys That Speak To Autism" that you might want to check out! (As of this writing, Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us have raised over $1 million!)
From now until April 12th, Lindt Chocolates is donating a portion of their proceeds from every Chocolate Lindt Gold Bunny AND Limited Edition Plush Gold Bunny Ears sold to Autism Speaks. If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth and help Autism Speaks, you may consider some Lindt Chocolates this year!
Advocacy Update
Autism Votes has been working hard in the state to help pass Shayan's Law - Autism Insurance Reform. Here is some important information about what the law would do, if passed:
HB1210 - Sponsored by State Representative Brendan Williams (D-22)
SB5203 "Shayan's Law" - Sponsored by State Senator Steve Hobbs (D-44)
Requires private insurance coverage of:
- * Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders by a licensed physician or psychologist.
* Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders
* Determined medically necessary by a licensed physician or psychologist
* Habilitative and Rehabilitative care
* Psychiatric and Psychological care
* Pharmacy care: medications for co-occurring symptoms or diagnoses
Children birth-21 years of age
Limits of Coverage: All therapy is subject to an annual limit of $50,000, but is NOT subject to a limit on the number of annual visits.
For more information on the bill or about our Autism Votes Initiative, contact Arzu Forough, Autism Speaks Government Relations Liaison, at WashingtonStateAdvocacy @ autismspeaks.org!
Meet Justin!
I would like to take a minute to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Justin Wieging and I am the new Pacific Northwest Manager for Autism Speaks. I will be your liaison for all things Autism Speaks-related for the state of Washington. With our fantastic Walk and Committee Chairs, I look forward to our tremendous Walk Now for Autism events in the state and know we can raise $150,000 for Autism in Tacoma this year. If there is anything I can do to help, please just let me know by phone, fax, or email.
Phone: 206.464.5182 | 866.362.6227
Fax: 206.622.2970
Email: Justin.Wieging @ autismspeaks.org
I look forward to meeting all of you and can't wait to see what 2009 brings!
Mailing Address:
Autism Speaks - Pacific Northwest
159 Western Avenue West
Suite 484
Seattle, WA 98119
US
Contact Name: Justin Wieging
Telephone Number: 206-484-5182
| Print article | This entry was posted by stella on 04/02/09 at 01:30:55 am . Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. |
XML Feeds
08/23/10 @ 12:12:39 am
Good job guys!
11/05/10 @ 07:00:37 am
This is really a great blog it helped me a lot in my research. Thanks for the tips and information.
11/17/10 @ 02:44:42 am
Thanks for the info. Good job!!!