Support Group Meeting

Hi everyone,Just a reminder that our next support group meeting will feature Dr. Julie Beasley as our guest speaker.Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009Time: 7:00-9:00pmPlace: Wengert Conference Room, Nevada Power Company6226 W. Sahara Avenue - Parking in the rear of the buildingSpeaker: Dr. Julie Beasley

(Just a note, this meeting is open to those with low-functioning children as well, I have been and they are welcoming to all parents who have children affected by autism:)

Parents!

We are reaching out to parents who have previously attended one or more of thetrainings we have offered through UNLV’s Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders.We have been contacted by a local media source interested in writing a story.They are looking for parents who are willing to be interviewed regarding theirexperiences as a parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or parentswho are willing to provide a testimonial regarding the training they havereceived through the Center.We do not provide the listserv information to individuals outside of the Center,which is why we are contacting you directly. If you are interested in thisopportunity please contact us via email at autism1@unlv.nevada.edu or call usat (702) 895-5836.Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!Heather Van Ness, Ph.D.Project CoordinatorUNLV Center for Autism Spectrum DisordersCenter for Autism Spectrum DisordersUNLV Department of Special Education4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 453014Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-3014Phone#(702)8955836 Fax(702)8950984http://asdcenter.org/

A NOTE FROM MICHELE ABOUT AUSTISM ARTICLE IN THE LAS VEGAS SUN….

Hello, an article I wrote was published this morning in the Sun. I wanted to share it with you and also ask that you take a minute to register and make apositive comment about the article. Our bill has lots of sponsors in the legislature, but the insurance lobby may come out strong against us. We are waiting on the actuaries' math for Nevada, but in other states, similar bills increased each policy holders monthly insurance costs by about a$1.50. How they have been allowed to discriminate against autism (an organic brain dysfunction) for so long is a mystery. The legislators are made aware of the public response in forums like this, so please take a minute to show your support. Thanks! Michelehttp://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/feb/18/why-treatment-essential-autism/

Parents, Providers, Family Members and Friends,

We need everyone, and I mean everyone, and everyone that each of you knows, to take a moment and go on-line to the Nevada Legislative site and vote for AB162, the bill which will provide insurance coverage for Nevadans with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The site is listed below. Once on the site, click the circle "For" and make a short comment in support of the bill. Legislators monitor how many votes a bill gets. AB162 needs to be the bill with the most votes to have a chance at passing. We need to stand together as "One Voice"
Vote Yes by going to this site:
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/opinions/Poll/index.cfm#EnterInfo
Please send this out on your personal email loops too.
You can read the bill here: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/AB/AB162.pdf
Thank you and in hope,
Jan Crandy


Ralph Toddre, Commissioner
1790 Vassar Street
Reno, Nevada 89502
775-322-4444
email: rtoddre@krnv.com

Mary Liveratti, Commissioner
Nevada Department of Health
and Human Services
Carson City, Nevada
775-684-4000
email: mliveratti@dhhs.nv.gov
Jan M. Crandy, Commissioner
3812 Ginger Creek
Las Vegas, Nevada 89108
702-595-2067
email: comservjan@cox.net

Dear Nevada Autism Advocate

Autism Speaks is pursuing autism insurance reform in over thirty states across the nation, including Nevada!
Today, Autism Speaks is announcing its support for Nevada Assembly Bill 162, also known as the autism insurance reform bill. This legislation would require private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, testing and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sponsored in the Nevada State Assemblyman James Ohrenschall (D-12), the autism insurance reform bill includes coverage of evidence-based, medically-necessary autism therapies.
Eight states – Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas -- have enacted autism insurance reform legislation. Several other state legislatures will vote on similar legislation during the current session.
Your help is needed to generate support for the autism insurance reform bill from your Nevada Assemblymember...
Here's How You Can Help:
1. CALL YOUR NEVADA ASSEMBLYMEMBER! Tell him/her that you support Assembly Bill 162, the autism insurance reform bill! Tell him/her that you need their support for AB 162. And tell him/her that AB 162 will help thousands of families across Nevada handle the financial burdens of having a child with autism. Make sure to share your family's story. Let your representative know that autism is treatable! Insurance should cover the treatment!
Find out who represents you and their phone number here
2. SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER urging him/her to support the autism insurance reform bill! We encourage you to take the opportunity to personalize the e-mail before you click "send". Tell your representative your family's story and why passage of this bill is so important.
3. STAY INFORMED ON SB 162! Visit the Autism Votes website and sign up today to receive alerts and information pertaining to the autism insurance reform bill.
4. FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN NEVADA! A far-reaching grassroots effort will be crucial to the success of this legislation. Reach out to those who have asked how they can help by asking them to support this bill. They can show their support by by contacting their Nevada representative and by registering for action alerts at AutismVotes.org.
For more information on the autism insurance reform initiative in Nevada, visit www.AutismVotes.org/Nevada.
Thank you!
Shelley HendrixDirector of State Advocacy RelationsAutism Speaks

Article on the Autism Insurance Bill

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/feb/11/insurers-likely-get-bill-autism/

Save our Nevada Schools

Join Nevada PTA on Thursday, February 26, 2009 for a day in our state capital to speak with Legislators about saving education in Nevada and saving our future.
The chartered bus will depart Las Vegas Wednesday, February 25th promptly at 10:00 PM from the Nevada PTA office, 6134 W. Charleston Blvd., on the northwest corner of Charleston and Jones. We will arrive in Carson City around 7:00 AM Thursday morning, in time to have breakfast, then meet with legislators. There will also be an opportunity to sit on the floor of the Nevada Senate and Assembly during their 11AM sessions.
After a break for lunch and additional meeting time, we will depart Carson City promptly at 4:00 PM, arriving back in Las Vegas around 12 midnight.
Cost: $60.00 for PTA members, $75.00 for non-PTA members.
If you are not already a member of a PTA or PTSA, you are welcome to join the statewide Battle Born PTA for a $10 annual membership fee to obtain the member rate on this and subsequent trips. There are also many additional member benefits available with local, state, and national partners.
Meal cost is not included. Information on reserved pay-ahead options will be available when you confirm your registration, along with a list of close-by options if you prefer to eat on your own.
To Reserve Your Seat: Call the Nevada PTA office at 258-7885 or e-mail office@NevadaPTA.org with your name and contact information, including school affiliation, if any. Payment must be received within 72 hours of your reservation at the Nevada PTA office to confirm your seat. The first fifty paid seats will be eligible to take part in this historic event.

The Price Quoted in the Autism Partnership article

The price quoted in the Autism Partnership article http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/04/autism.resolution/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
sent earlier today is not correct. The article says the price for therapy is $20,000 per week. It has been confirmed that this was a typo in the article.

Nevada Lawmakers

Nevada lawmakers hear emotional pleas for autism treatment funds
Nevada lawmakers had an emotional day of testimony Friday, as families affected by autism pleaded with legislators to continue funding treatment for the developmental disease. Last session, the legislature allocated $2 million to treat children with autism... http://www.kvbc.com/global/story.asp?s=9804513Find more items like this at http://www.kvbc.comCopyright 2009 KVBC


PARENTS AND FRIENDS:

First, I want to say a BIG Thank you to Cierra!!!! For the powerful testimony your letter made. They heard you!!

We can all make a difference; it only takes one letter to change their minds. Yours could be the one.
Please take Cierra's example and write or call your Legislator. Ask them to support ALL the bills for Autism!!! Yes, it is very exciting; we will have more than one bill.

I have provided group email addresses for you, so it will be easier, one letter to Assembly members and one letter to Senators. Dear Senator: or Dear Assembly Member:
Please be polite, let them know you would appreciate their support. Make sure you include your name and address; it matters to them if you live in their district. BRIEFLY SHARE YOUR STORY and why it’s important to you.


The Bill for insurance coverage will be introduced next week. I believe it is one of the strongest bills among all the Autism insurance bills, Autism Speaks likes it too! They will be helping us at Legislation.
Once the bill is introduced, it will be available on line to download and read at http://www.leg.state.nv.us

The insurance bill specifically covers screening and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and treatment
"Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders" means habilitative or rehabilitative care (counseling, guidance and professional services and treatment programs, including, applied behavior analysis)
pharmaceutical care, psychiatric care, psychological care or therapeutic care (speech ,OT, PT)

I will keep everyone updated and provide on going information. I plan to give an outline of what each bill will provide once we have more details. I don't want to misinform you, so please be patience.
As soon as I know, you will know. Please if you have questions or concerns call me at 702-595-2067

One Voice, One Cause

In hope,

Jan Crandy
NV Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders

WHEN EMAILING BE SURE TO LIST AUTISM IN THE SUBJECT area


To email all Assemblymen Just copy the below addresses and paste as a group into the "To" box

paizley@asm.state.nv.us;banderson@asm.state.nv.us;marberry@asm.state.nv.us;katkinson@asm.state.nv.us;info@davidbobzien.com;bbuckley@asm.state.nv.us;jcarpenter@asm.state.nv.us;cchristensen@asm.state.nv.us;jclaborn@asm.state.nv.us;tcobb@asm.state.nv.us;mconklin@asm.state.nv.us;mdenis@asm.state.nv.us;mdonderoloop@asm.state.nv.us;hgansert@charter.net;goedhart4assembly@hotmail.com;pgoicoechea@asm.state.nv.us;tgrady@asm.state.nv.us;dgustavson@asm.state.nv.us;jhambrick@asm.state.nv.us;jhardy@asm.state.nv.us;sanjoe@embarqmail.com;whorne@asm.state.nv.us;rkihuen@asm.state.nv.us;mkirkpatrick@asm.state.nv.us;ekoivisto@asm.state.nv.us;sleslie@asm.state.nv.us;mmanendo@asm.state.nv.us;amastroluca@asm.state.nv.us;rmcarthur@asm.state.nv.us;kmcclain@asm.state.nv.us;hmortenson@asm.state.nv.us;hmunford@asm.state.nv.us;joceguera@asm.state.nv.us;johrenschall@asm.state.nv.us;bparnell@asm.state.nv.us;ppierce@asm.state.nv.us;tick@cox.net;jsettelmeyer@asm.state.nv.us;dsmith@asm.state.nv.us;espiegel@asm.state.nv.us;lynnstewart@cox.net;melissa@woodburyforassembly.com



To email all the Senators at once Just copy the below addresses and paste into the "To" box

mamodei@sen.state.nv.us;sbreeden@sen.state.nv.us;tcare@sen.state.nv.us;mcarlton@sen.state.nv.us;bcegavske@sen.state.nv.us;bcoffin@sen.state.nv.us;acopening@sen.state.nv.us;whardy@sen.state.nv.us;shorsford@sen.state.nv.us;jlee@sen.state.nv.us;bmathews@sen.state.nv.us;mmcginness@sen.state.nv.us;dnolan@sen.state.nv.us;dparks@sen.state.nv.us;wraggio@sen.state.nv.us;drhoads@sen.state.nv.us;mschneider@sen.state.nv.us;rtownsend@sen.state.nv.us;mwashington@sen.state.nv.us;vwiener@sen.state.nv.us;jwoodhouse@sen.state.nv.us


Autism affects 1 in every 150 children.....Care before you have to...

A Blog for Everyone to Enjoy

I just found a new blog. It is www.kathiesworld.com Very informative. Please take a look and enjoy.

Enjoying The Moment

"What can . . . young mother[s] [do] . . . to reduce the pressure [of raising young children] and enjoy [their families] more? . . .
"Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.
"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: 'The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less' (Loud and Clear [1004], 10-11)."
M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109

Toy "R" Us Inc., Expands It's Support of Autism Speaks

Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children's Fund have increased their support of Autism Speaks. This year, more than 260 Babies“R”Us locations nationwide will join Toys“R”Us stores in a nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April. To kick off the 2009 partnership, the Toys“R”Us Children's Fund also awarded Autism Speaks a $400,000 grant. Since the partnership began in 2007, the Toys“R”Us Children's Fund, Toys“R”Us, Inc. and customer donations have combined to provide Autism Speaks with more than $3.7 million. Read more.

Nevadans for Quality Education

Nevadans for Quality Education is participating in the “Not on Our Backs” rally hosted by the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) on Saturday, February 7, 2009. The rally will be held in the gym at Chaparral High School at 10:00am.

In the last year, K-12 education lost over $180 million due to the Governor's budget cuts. To add insult to injury, the Governor is now proposing 6% pay reductions, freezes on step increases and higher benefits costs for all state employees including teachers.

We are very concerned over the mounting teacher shortages and the number of long term substitutes attempting to educate our children without the proper training to do so. NQE believes that the ability to attract and retain highly qualified teachers is paramount to student achievement. But with the ongoing cuts and reductions in pay and benefits for our educators, Nevada is quickly becoming an unattractive place to live and work and raise our children. Our state must adequately fund education in order to provide our students with quality teachers and sufficient resources to become successful.

Please attend the rally to support our teachers, because doing so supports our children and their future.
For more rally information, visit: www.ccea-nv.org

State of Nevada; Human Services

SENATE FINANCE/ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS
JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES/CIP

Day Friday Date February 6, 2009 Time 8:00 a.m. Room 3137
If you cannot attend the meeting, you can listen to it live over the Internet. The address for the legislative website is http://www.leg.state.nv.us. For audio broadcasts, click on the link “Listen to Live Meetings.”
Note: We are pleased to make reasonable accommodations for members of the public who are disabled and wish to attend the meeting. If special arrangements for the meeting are necessary, please notify the Senate Subcommittee on Finance at (775) 684-1488.
(R#) Indicates the reprint number of the bill/resolution being considered.
PLEASE PROVIDE 30 COPIES OF YOUR EXHIBITS AND NOTES.
Cellular telephones must be turned off while in the committee room.


BUDGET HEARINGS
VOLUME II
Executive Budget Page
Department of Health and Human Services
Michael J. Willden, Director
HHS – Administration, 101-3150
DHHS Director’s Office-1
HHS – Grants Management Unit, 101-3195
14
HHS – Healthy Nevada Fund, 262-3261
31
HHS – Public Defender, 101-1499
43
Indian Affairs Commission, 101-2600
50

Aging Services Division

HHS – Developmental Disabilities, 101-3154
AGING-37
HHS – Community Based Services, 101-3266
49
HHS – IDEA Part C Compliance, 101-3276
59