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To read our current newsletter or view previous editions please visit www.autismnebraska.org/newsgram.
Put on the Puzzle! The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 110 children in America - that’s 13 million families and growing who live with autism today.
Show your support for people with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon this month – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, a badge on your blog, or even your Facebook profile picture - and educate folks on the potential of people with autism! For suggestions and resources, visit www.autism-society.org/ribbon.
Spread the word. Helping the autism community can be as easy as updating your Facebook or Twitter status! On April 1, the Autism Society is asking supporters to change their status on Facebook and/or Twitter to “Autism affects 1 in 110.
Help spread the word: http://bit.ly/bUAVRf.”
For the first time ever, supporters can now simply text “AUTISM” to 50555 to donate $10 to the Autism Society. 100% of your donations will go to support the Autism Society’s mission of improving the lives of all affected by autism.
Please click here to get added to our mailing list!
To read our current newsletter or view previous editions please visit www.autismnebraska.org/newsgram.
We are hoping to find a Nebraska athlete on the autism spectrum who is participating in the National Special Olympic Games in Lincoln this summer. Due to confidentiality reasons, the Special Olympics can’t share participant information so we are putting a call out through the Autism Society to find you!
If you or your loved one is participating in the National games and would be willing to be interviewed please email Kristen Larsen at larsenk@charter.net or call 308-237-4343! Thank you!
Help us shape our future!
The Nebraska Chapter of the Autism Society seeks to have board representation for across the State and will be taking applications to fill Board member positions. We need Autism Professionals as well as Autism Warriors. Anyone interested in helping advocate for individuals affected by autism is eligible.
If you are interested in learning more please contact Autism Society President, Michaela Newman at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org.
The Autism Society of Nebraska is seeking applications for the Dan Archwamety Post Secondary Education Scholarship. A scholarship of up to $500 is available this year for an individual with a diagnosis of ASD. The scholarship must be used toward completing an accredited post‐secondary course of study (educational or vocational). Applicant must be currently admitted/registered for the program.
Scholarship will be awarded at the ASD Network convention Banquet on Thursday, April 8. Persons who have already received this scholarship will not be eligible.
Application should also include:
1. Proof of ASD diagnosis
2. Proof of current admittance/registration in a post‐secondary educational or vocational institute
3. Two letters of recommendation‐‐one from a teacher, one from a non‐relative
Download an application here. Applications must be postmarked by March 29, 2010.
Please take a few moments to help us make sure the Autism Society has your current information in our mailing list!
Click here to update our records
Two months until the 3rd annual Autism Puzzle Walk! Keep an eye out for walk information to arrive in the next couple of weeks!
Wow! What a response! Thank you to everyone who submitted creations for the Autism Society’s “design our Puzzle Walk T shirt campaign”. There is no doubt that we have some very talented and creative members in our community!
You should all be proud of your designs as they all showed great talent. And considering the large number of votes each of you received it is hard to say that there cannot be three winners to this contest.
But unfortunately…only one design can adorn our T shirts…and the winner is…
Our congratulations to Genisa Neal of Omaha!
Autism Society of Nebraska Puzzle Walk Meeting
February 8th, 2010
7pm-9pm
The Nebraska Medical Center- Durham Outpatient Center Room (DOC) 2628
4400 Emile St- Omaha, NE
Michaela’s Cell Phone: 402-658-5261 (See Map here)
Directions:
Off interstate-Take the 42nd St Exit (Exit 451)
Turn Left onto 42nd St. (Going North)
Continue on 42nd St.
Emile St. Turn Left at lights
Drive until you see the big circle drive on your Right- says “Durham Outpatient Center”
park in the parking structure to the West
Go in main doors of Durham Outpatient Center
Take elevators or escalator in the main entrance to second floor- room 2628
A few weeks ago we asked our community to help us design the 2010 Autism Puzzle Walk T shirts. Here are three designs that were submitted in the contest and we humbly thank everyone who took time to get creative. Two of the designs below were submitted by persons on the spectrum and one was submitted by a sibling. All of the submission were all wonderful and we applaud your creativity! Thank you!!!!
But now we need our community to help us decide which design to put on the Autism Society’s 2010 Puzzle Walk T shirts! Please follow the link below and cast your vote!
(Vote closes on Sunday February 14th)
Every year the Autism Society of Nebraska awards an individual who shows outstanding commitment to the Autism Community. Anyone who touches the lives of individuals with ASD’s is eligible. This award will be presented at the Statewide Annual Conference held this year in Kearney on April 8th & 9th.
Nominations should be emailed to the Nomination Committee at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org prior to March 1st, 2010.
Please include the name of the person being nominated, contact information for yourself and the nominee, and a one page narrative on why you think this person should be awarded the Excellence in Autism Award from the Autism Society. Please help us honor those who work so diligently to improve the lives of those affected by autism.
Do you know of anyone who might be interested in serving as a corporate sponsor for our 3rd annual Autism Society Puzzle Walk? Please contact the Autism Society right away at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org!
Do you have a contact that would be interested in donating a raffle prize for our event? The raffle is always amazing! Help us make it even more spectacular and raise even more funds for a great cause! Contact us at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org to make a donation!
We need your creativity! Please help us design the 2010 Puzzle Walk T shirts. We need your help creating a spectacular design for the front of the walk T-shirts.
Your only requirements are that the design needs to state…
2010 Autism Puzzle Walk and that it is being hosted by the Autism Society of Nebraska
…beyond that we encourage you to use your imagination!
Please have designs submitted in .gif or .jpg format to autismsociety@autismnebraska.org no later than January 31st! The Autism Society will narrow the selection down and have our community help pick the winner!
Our friends at Autism Action Partnership have asked us to encouraging everyone to take a few moments and put on your advocacy hats! The Autism Action Partnership has been a pivotal force with this Autism Waiver and they are telling us that it appears that we are (once again) receiving some “legislative delays.”
Please help elevate our voices and remind them that we are still waiting! There once was a bill known as LB482 that created an autism waiver for early intervention services. Families across Nebraska rejoiced when it passed! But they waited and they waited. It turned out that there were legislative delays that ultimately prevented it’s implementation. So advocates made changes and then in May of 2009 we passed LB27 to create these much needed services. And here we are 8 months later and due to “legislative delays” our children are still waiting for their early intervention!
Our loved ones are still waiting without services!
Please consider contacting Kerry Winterer and/or Ben Nelson. We have a sample message written below that you can copy and paste into your email. Or feel free to write your own message. But please take a few moments and stand up and be heard! We also encourage you to have Grandma and Aunt Trudy and Uncle Chester send emails!!!! We thank you for all that you do!
Information for Mr. Winterer can be found here http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/contact.htm
Information for Mr. Nelson can be found here http://bennelson.senate.gov/email-issues.cfm
Information regarding the waiver can be found here http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/HCS/Programs/Autism-Waiver.htm and you can download a copy of the final legislative bill here.
(Here is a brief suggested message)
Mr. Winterer/Nelson,
The people of Nebraska need reform for Autism-related services, and you have the opportunity to make this a reality!
As you know, the Autism Treatment Program Act was passed into law in May 2009, yet we stand here in January 2010 without services for our children affected by autism. I urge you to expedite the process of enacting the Autism Waiver to provide real and permanent change to our youth on the autism spectrum. Nebraska deserves better.
Thank you for your action in advance.
Sincerely,
(NAME)
(ORGANIZATION)
On January 1, 2010 the “Nebraska Family Helpline” (# 1-888-866-8660) went active.
As you know, this service was authorized by LB603 and is intended to provide 24/7/365 assistance to youth and parents/caregivers of a youth experiencing an urgent behavioral health situation. Professionals at Boys Town will be available to help families.
As you all know, our state needs a LOT of improvements in how they support behavioral health. This hotline is one way to have our voices be heard that we need help!
(See the DHHS Press Release here.)
