AutismOregon.org

I'm not a fan of American Express or Autism Speaks but ... Autism Speaks (under the name of Cure Autism Now - CAN) is 1 of 50 finalists to become the recipients of a donation effort by American Express.

Good Lord the autism community needs something. As big as it is, we really get nothing.

If you have an AMEX card, go here:

http://www.membersproject.com/Health_Fitness/50

Register, login, vote.

An interesting story at
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/HealthScout/070625/6062502AU.html
where scientists have found a way to reverse autism and mental retardation in mice genetically manipulated to contain Fragile X Syndrome. This reminds me of the story "Flowers for Algernon" later adapted to the screen as "Charly."

It appears there is an enzyme called PAK that inhibits brain activity. When PAK is stopped, the brain abnormalities reverse. What is a bit more exciting is this:

Eugene, Register Guard

Insurance bill will help families dealing with autism
Published: Friday, June 29, 2007

Parents of children with developmental disabilities have something to celebrate. House Bill 2918, which requires insurance companies to cover certain kinds of treatment for pervasive developmental disorders, awaits the governor's signa-ture.

The proposed new law was passed unanimously by the House on May 11. After making several amendments, the Senate passed the bill, and the House concurred with the amendments Tuesday.

State Rep. Chris Edwards, D-Eugene, a sponsor of the bill, expects the governor to sign the bill into law.

UPDATED INFO/Change of legislative committee to contact
6/14/07Fwd from feator_news yahoogroup.
**Please share the message with other interested parents, families, friends and stakeholders!
**Read the ENTIRE message for how to help and phone/emails of key Oregon Legislators!
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From Kathryn Weit, policy analyst for Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities:

We learned early this morning (6/14) that HB 2918 was assigned to a new committee!! Please disregard the previous list and contact the legislators BELOW. We need to let them know that this bill is important to families and physicians!
Insurance Fairness for Children with Disabilities Needs Your Help Now!
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Issue: HB 2918, INSURANCE FAIRNESS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

This is important legislation for children with disabilities. The bill has
passed the House Committee, but has been stuck in Ways and Means. The session is
ending and the bill must be scheduled for a hearing in the next few days or it
will die for this session!

Background:
Today, many families with insurance find that their insurance plans deny
coverage for services to children who have certain disability labels, even if
those services are covered for other family members.

HB 2918 requires insurance companies to cover the physical health needs of
children with disabilities in the same way they cover the physical health needs
of individuals without disabilities. This applies to medical services, as well
as to rehabilitation services like speech, physical and occupational therapy.

Most major health care insurance plans support this legislation.

ACTION:
Contact the legislators listed below. Urge them to support HB 2918
We need action now to show our support for this bill!!!!!!! Share this email with others.
ACT NOW!

Here’s the deal. Go to http://difflearn.com and pick ANY one item costing $50 or less (not including shipping). Then post your choice (a direct link to the item would be nice) at http://autismoregon.org . A random post will be chosen and that poster will get the item for free. Can it get any better than that? If so, tell me – Kathy at kathyandcalvin dot com (you know the deal, put the email together correctly).

Here is how to make an entry:

Although the passage of 2918 through the Oregon House was good news, it still needs to go through the Senate, so please continue to contact your legislator,
--by email, or better yet, by phone.
To find your legislator

For more Senate information, including mailing labels for all members.
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NEWSTORY: Health insurance mandates are under-the-radar issue in Salem
5/19/2007, 1:30 p.m. PDT
By JULIA SILVERMAN
The Associated Press

"...Insurers have mostly remained quiet about the mandate proposals, perhaps because of the can't-fight-city-hall factor: Democrats, who now control both the state House and Senate, tend to favor expanded coverage options.

Still, some issues have raised industry concerns, and could face amendments before the session concludes, said Fawn McNeely, who lobbies for ODS Health Plans. The industry is keeping a particularly close eye on House Bill 2918, which would require coverage for treatment of some pervasive developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, which has been growing rapidly among Oregon children.

An interesting story from Pennsylvania/New Jersey on http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-05142007-1346256.html. Apparently, a group of parents were able to have a panel discussion with their legislators:

State and county lawmakers learned about the obstacles facing local families whose children are autistic at a special meeting Thursday organized by Sharing and Caring of Bucks County, a local autism parent support group.

Can we do the same as a block of parents across Oregon? Even if it were held in Portland, many parents could attend.

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/05/12/d1.cr.autism.0512.p1.php?se...

Speech therapy bill easily clears House
By David Steves
The Register-Guard
Published: Saturday, May 12, 2007

SALEM - Rep. Chris Edwards, D-Eugene, literally put a face to the issue of autism in the Oregon House of Representatives on Friday.

He did it by holding overhead an 8-by-11 photograph of his 5-year-old son.

Simon Edwards is one of the thousands of children with the disorder in a state that has more such diagnoses per capita than any other.

A story on http://npr.org peaked my interest on a medical doctor named T. Berry Brazelton. He created a Touchpoint system by which 3 categories of children (three age groups starting at 0-3) exhibit basic stages of childhood often from the point of view of the child.

Portland State is offering courses this summer that aim to educate children with autism and educate special education teachers and members of the community who work with children who have autism.

The classes can be taken by students working toward a certificate in autism training at PSU. Two different classes will be offered during summer term: the first about educating children with autism and the second on the PSU-developed Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research (STAR) program.