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Autism-Advocacy.org
Advocating for Individuals with Autism
and their Families while Educating Communities
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Please Join Us
for the
Annual
Autism Advocacy
Organization Event April 9th,
2009
5-8:00 pm,
Montandon, PA
Contact Me at:
scolon@ptd.net
2009 Event Flyer
Directions to the Event
Get on-line Directions
Previous Events
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This Year's
Guest Speakers:
Susan Colon,
Autism Advocacy Organization
Founder, Parent & Educator will present
‘Practical Strategies an Overview’ on Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Susan is the founder and CEO of Autism Advocacy Organization.
Rep. Dennis
O’Brien, Former Speaker of the
House & Autism Advocate, has worked successfully at improving services
and opportunities for individuals with Autism. He will speak on his
work and on his introduction of HB1150 passed into law as Act 62 and how
this will help individuals & families. (Read more about Dennis O'Brien
in section below on Act 62.)
Chuck Ardo,
Press Secretary, for Governor Rendell. Chuck will speak of his work
in the political field and about his personal experience as a Father of a child diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum
at a later age who is now an adult.
Christa Brophy,
OT of Kidswork Therapy Center,
will present ‘Handwriting Without Tears.’
Christa has in worked in Occupational Therapy for 15 years in a variety
of settings, and in a variety
of capacities.
Thank you to everyone who loves and supports others who may have
differences, knowing that being different is not a negative thing, but
rather something that makes them unique and very special. I am
blessed to have been bringing this event to you all for more than five
years now and I look forward to many more years. -Susan Colón |
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How this
journey began....
....love never ends

How it all began...
Autism Advocacay
Organization
began as an idea and
the
motivation
which continues
to
drive it today has
never
lost sight
of the mission
and looks to the future
with tremendous
Hope and Success.
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What Act 62 will mean to your child and your family:
Why was House Bill 1150 introduced by Speaker Dennis O’Brien?
This legislation was
introduced to mitigate the heavy burden caused by health insurance
companies’ discrimination against individuals with autism. While
its language has been revised several times, and while other matters
were added to the bill before it became law as Act 62, the essence of
the autism insurance reform legislation remains intact.
What does
Act 62 do?
In regards to autism insurance reform, Act 62 does three main
things:
1. it
requires private health insurance companies to begin covering the costs
of diagnostic assessments for autism and of services for individuals
with autism who are under the age of 21;
2. it
requires the PA Department of Public Welfare to cover those costs for
individuals who have no insurance coverage, or for individuals whose
costs exceed $36,000 that year; and
3. it
requires the PA Department of State to license professional behavior
specialists and to establish minimum licensure qualifications for them.
What coverage is mandated by the law?
Act 62 requires coverage for diagnostic assessments, pharmacy
care, psychiatric care, psychological care, rehabilitative care, and
therapeutic care. These
categories of mandated services are defined in the law.
Read More About Dennis O'Brien and
his work in Autism |
Thank you to Governor Ed Rendell for his
continued support to improve services for
individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Governor Ed Rendell, Susan Colόn and her
sons.
The children fondly refer to the Governor as
'The President of Pennsylvania' |
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PA Bureau of Autism Services
Office of Dispute Resolution
Disability Rights Network
of Pennsylvania
Dept. of Public Welfare
717-787-2600
Dept. of Public Welfare
Know the:
The Red
Flags
Of Autism Related Disorders
The Autism Series
on
WKOK Roundtable:
The series continues....
focus on topics related to Autism.
Visual Senses & Autism -
Archive CDs available:
contact Mark at
WKOK for a copy
What is Autism?
Red
Flags & Where to get help.
Sensory Integration
What it is and how to treat it.
Holiday Considerations Suggestions for Parents and
Families
Speech & Language
How Autism effects
speech & language.
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This
Year's Awards for Awareness, Education and Acceptance:
Autism Awareness- CSIU for their continued
support of the Annual Autism Event and their work in improving the
education of others working in the field everyday, with individuals with
Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Autism Education -Dr. Vikas Passi,
Family Practice Center for his support in educating parents and others
by providing Autism trainings.Autism
Acceptance- Master's Abers & Fletcher, Sil Lum
Chuan Fa Kung Fu, Milton and Sunbury YMCA for their acceptance of
working with children of all abilities using compassion and
understanding.
We thank those awarded this year and all of those who continue to
support Autism Awareness, Education and Promote Awareness - Thank You. |
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Purchase a puzzle piece to support Autism Advocacy
Puzzle Pieces will be on exhibit the evening of the event.
Puzzle pieces are available for $1 each
Contact Me at:
scolon@ptd.net
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Coming Soon
A book offering
practical strategies and a
different perspective on
understanding children with
Autism Spectrum Disorders for
who they are and seeing
difference as a positive instead
of a negative.
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"I believe
in You"
from Autism Digest Magazine |
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The time to help
all children with
Autism related disorders
is now.
The time for
educating
yourself is now.
The time to help families is now. Please join us and show your support to
individuals and families
touched by autism.
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Inspirations
Stories from Parents on the journey
that will inspire you.
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Definition of Terms:
What
is ABA?
What is an IEP?
What is
Sensory Integration?
For Physicians
On a national average, pediatricians and
physicians are failing to refer children for free and
confidential assessments, this must change...
(more information for
Physicians)
For Educators
As educators and
school districts seek to understand and meet the needs
of students they need the assistance of professionals
trained in the field of autism and valuable information
and resources. These children are individuals and
their IEPs must reflect their needs....
(More
information for Educators) |