NJ Sen. Menendez to Announce A New Autism Initiative Apr 28

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1. livsparents says:

   April 27, 2008 at 10:51 pm

   Hopefully, this initiative does better than the last set. It appears that Gov Corzine’s budget cuts have stalled ALL of the last set of autism legislation. The deathnell statement from the minority in the House is “Until such time as Governor Corzine delivers his Fiscal Year 2009 State budget to the Legislature, neither the members of this committee, nor the Legislature generally, should endorse any additional spending initiatives.”

   Hopefully this one fairs better, but with the state holding on to it’s money so tight (even when it means SAVING money in the long run, when it comes to helping those on the spectrum become meaningful contributors to society) I’m pretty sure this bill will face the same fate…

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2. Kristina Chew, PhD says:

   April 28, 2008 at 12:41 am

   A lot of work to keep doing—-

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3. Kristina Chew, PhD says:

   April 28, 2008 at 3:08 pm

   The legislation will be called the Helping Hands Autism Act of 2008; this is from COSAC’s news release:

   The Helping Hands Autism Act of 2008 aims to increase Housing, Awareness and Navigation Demonstration Services (HANDS) for individuals with ASDs. It is expected to combine guidance for families seeking ASD services and care, awareness training for first responders and a task force on housing for adults with autism. New Jersey, where 1 in 94 children is diagnosed with an ASD, has the highest rate of autism in the nation. Today’s event was held at the Theodore Roosevelt No. 5 Elementary School in Weehawken, NJ, and follows several pieces of autism legislation introduced in the past year.
   COSAC Executive Director Linda Meyer and Director of Public Policy and Systems Advocacy Leslie Long attended today’s event along with families affected by ASDs, and representatives of Autism Speaks, a national organization. Several people addressed the positive impact this legislation can have on more than 87,000 state residents affected by an ASD.
   COSAC thanked Senator Menendez for listening to the needs of New Jersey’s autism community and acknowledging COSAC as a valuable resource for families and professionals who support them. “The Helping Hands for Autism Act marks a great step toward an improved quality of life for individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders,” said Linda Meyer. “The autism community represents both a medical and financial challenge for our communities. As the state’s budget tightens, states need to look for federal partners to help solve difficult problems. Senator Menendez, thank you for working to create a long overdue federal and state partnership to benefit the autism community,” Meyer concluded.
   “Nothing is more important to families than to know that their government understands the issues they are facing and to present solutions to aid them,” said Leslie Long, whose department educates families, legislators, employers and the community on the lifelong needs of individuals affected by ASDs. “We believe that Senator Menendez has empowered the autism community through this much needed and very important legislation.”

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4. Hardymum says:

   May 1, 2008 at 5:55 am

   I live in New Jersey. What should I do to help this pass? When is it going to be voted on?

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1. Helping HANDS for Autism Act says:

   April 28, 2008 at 5:06 pm

   [...] is the press release about the new autism legislation that New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez unveiled this morning in Weehawken, in Hudson County in [...]

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