The 2011 Legislative Session Is Here!
We have two bills this year filed for autism insurance reform. SB 1061 – Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder; relating to the state employee health benefit plan. This bill only covers state employees. SB 1062 – Relating to health insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder. This bill excludes state employees. There are reasons for this […]
‘GMA’ Anchor Sam Champion Inspired by Sister’s Advocacy for Autism Cure
Since I was a young boy, I’ve always looked up to my big sister Teresa. Most Likely to Succeed, she aced law school, married a naval aviator — John Quigley — and next became a mom. It seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do. Her first child was a girl, my beautiful niece Sydney. Then, […]
Fairfax: Autism, not ‘baby boomers,’ biggest future health challenge
The wave of aging “baby boomers” needing public health services in Northern Virginia — once thought to be the greatest healthcare and fiscal threat facing local governments in the coming decades — will be far outnumbered by the skyrocketing percentage of young adults with autism diagnoses, Fairfax County human services officials said Tuesday. According to […]
A weighty diagnosis
Roanoke Times February 7, 2010 When Karen Wu found out she was pregnant with twins, she and her husband, Ben McConnell, envisioned the children growing up side by side and doing all the same things together — from starting kindergarten to getting driver’s licenses. The twins, Molly and Peter, are 3 years old now. They […]
Legislation would help children with autism in Virginia
Daily Press February 7, 2010 …Our autism crisis at present affects more than 14,000 children in Virginia. We continue to work with our legislators to gain assistance for the families and children with autism by asking that insurance companies cover the cost of medically prescribed services for our children. The House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee […]
Summary of Virginia Legislation
Courtesy of Autism Votes, an Autism Speaks initiative. Summary of Virginia Legislation: House Bill 303 – Sponsored by Delegate John M. O’Bannon III Senate Bill 464 – Sponsored by Senator Janet D. Howell Would require health insurance companies to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for individuals age 9 and […]
Action Alert: Efforts Shift Focus to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
House Bill defeated in committee, Senate Bill up for debate HB 303 defeated by a tie vote of the House Labor and Commerce Committee Our effort now must quickly shift focus to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, which will hear SB 464, sponsored by Senator Janet Howell, next Monday, February 8 at around 1:30 […]
Brave Thinkers
Name: Thorkil Sonne Job: CEO and Founder of Specialisterne Why he’s brave: He launched a software-testing company and staffed it with employees who have autism spectrum disorder. Quote: “I think normality is whatever the majority decides it will be, and in our company people with autism are the norm.” Read more about Mr. Sonne and […]
Attend an Autism Summit
In partnership with Autism Speaks, the Virginia Autism Project (VAP) will sponsor three Autism Summits in October: Northern Virginia Autism Summit When: Monday, October 5 (6:30-8:30pm) Where: Hilton Alexandria Mark Center 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria RSVP: Click here Tidewater Autism Summit When: Saturday, October 10 (noon – 4:00 pm) Where: Double Tree Virginia Beach […]
Families Fight for Insurance
Springfield Connection October 1, 2009 Autism is considered a spectrum disorder; those afflicted by it have any number of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. With these shades of complexity comes a surprising new trouble: fighting with insurance providers to have these therapies and treatments covered under existing policies, as not all therapies or treatments […]
