" BREAKING THE SILENCE"

BREAKING THE SILENCE FAQ SHEET

WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DID YOU COME TOGETHER?
The list is a discussion group formed from a suggestion that came up in an e-mail list. Someone suggested that there is inadequate attention to
autism awareness (among other issues) and wondered how a group might go about
presenting their message in Washington in the context of a march or rally.
There was alot of discussion on the list about it for awhile, and so
a new list was formed. The mailing address for the discussion list is
BREAKING-THE-SILENCE@onelist.com
go to ONElist | Mailing List Communities and subscribe to Breaking the Silence.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LIST?
The plan is to hold a rally in Washington DC on April 8, 2000 . Several
dates were discussed and this date was chosen to avoid conflict with other
events, and to attempt to generate interest among the legislators while
Congress is in session. April is also Autism awareness month. The purpose of
the list is to bring together a grass-roots, parent-driven, child-centered
group of individuals who have an interest in bringing an awareness of Autism
to the nation. This will be done by focusing on the larger scope of
problems.....the need for educational access, the need for increased funding
for research, etc. rather than focusing on the more individual needs.....such
as any particular medical intervention, or a particular philosophy of
educational programming. We must work together to achieve the broader, common
goals before individual families and persons can hope to find answers to their
more specific needs. However, we also believe that it is important to "put a
face on autism" and to give the nation an opportunity to see the variety of
INDIVIDUALS affected by the SPECTRUM of autism.

WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW?
As of January 1999, the following has been accomplished
A date for the rally has been set.
A email discussion group at Onelist has been organized, as well as a chat
room. Mondays at
9 pm and Wed at 12 pm
Yahoo! Clubs
breakingthesilence
State representatives from each state are being sought. Many are in place.
If you would like to volunteer for this, contact Joanne at honeyb@ptw.com or Stephanie at a1a2ana3@aol.com for
details,
A list of participants in the discussion group, and their home addresses, etc.
has been obtained. (If you would like to add your information to the list,
please
contact Joanne at honeyb@ptw.com
A meeting has been planned for any members who are able to attend personally.
It
will be held at the law offices of Jeff Sell in Houston, TX on May 18 th
Many many
details need to be resolved at this meeting, and many decisions will be
made.
A non-profit status is being arranged. The organization sponsoring the rally
has been
named: Autism Resource Konnection, or ARK. To many, the ark is a symbol
of hope and a brighter future. To others, it suggests the "spectrum" that is
autism.
Celebrities have been contacted about attending the rally as speakers. These
are
well-known individuals who have family members with autism. Likewise, some
physicians and other potential speakers will be contacted. We are awaiting
responses from them.
Concerns about fund-raising have been addressed, and discussions have been
generated about how to fund the cost of things such as insurance, permits,
toileting facilities, any necessary honorariums or travel expenses for
speakers,etc. There has been some initial contact with corporate sponsors.
Discussions about the strategic and technical aspects of the rally are part
of the daily conversation on the list. If you have any contacts or
connections, let us know!!!!
State representatives have begun contacting local interested organizations,
such as
school districts, service agencies, care providers, etc. to begin the
process
of publicizing the rally. After the organizing meeting in May, we will work
on a online newsletter to email out to our local news stations, so they can
be kept up to date on our plans. State representatives will help to email
these out in their states.

HOW MUCH EMAIL AM I GOING TO GET FROM THIS LIST?
Many discussion groups generate a great deal of mail. This list can be
ordered in digest form, so that you get one email periodically, with a number
of posts included. The list generates about one digest per day, occasionally
with enough posts that it is necessary to download the posts as an attachment.
Hop right in and join us!

This site is still being updated. I suggest you come back monthly for updates.


Mark your calendars April 8, 2000 we are going to Washington DC.

The number of newly diagnosed children with autism is rising
>dramatically. According to HR 4203 Congress found that 1 in 500 children
>born today will be diagnosed with autism, 3/4 of those with infantile
>autism will spend their adult lives in institutions, group home settings or
>other facilities at a great cost to the parents, and taxpayers who
subsidize
>such facilities if private insurance is not available or, coverage is
>denied. There is alot more contained in the text of HR 4203 that will be
>beneficial.

Here are some contacts from various states you can contact for more information on BREAKING THE SILENCE rally on April 8, 2000. More will be added soon.

Honeyb@ptw.com (Joanne) ARK California state rep

mgray6@home.com (Margi) ARK Connecticut state rep

Atwater@gtn.net (Annette) ARK Illinois state rep.

Southard@msdlouky.org (Kristy) ARK Kentucky state rep

END AUTISM@aol.com (Shelley) ARK Louisiana state rep, also founder of Unlocking Autism

POPOSCAR@aol.com (Lisa) ARK Maryland state rep

DDBThatme@aol.com ARK Massachusetts state rep

Setrj@earthlink.net (Eileen) ARK Massachusetts state rep.

Booskies@aol.com (Stacie) ARK Minnesota state rep.

IWhite@bluejay.creighton.edu (Ines) ARK Nebraska state rep

SFlynn7778@aol.com (Sherry) ARK New Hampshire state rep

Mikeysmom@aol.com (Kristen) ARK state rep

Fiveinatub@aol.com (Mary) Ark NY state rep

Mbatti5245@aol.com (Sherry) ARK NY state rep

MVadala@odyssey.net (Margaret) ARK NY state rep

KLS4318@aol.com (Karen) ARK Ohio state rep.

Lisa62864@aol.com (Lisa) Pennsylvania state rep

a1a2ana3@aol.com (Steph) Pennsylvania state rep

Lovemykido@aol.com (Jan) ARK Texas state rep

JZSell@pdq.net (Jeff) ARK Texas state rep

Please check out this web page about an organization called UNLOCKING AUTISM. They are asking for pictures of our children to be taken to washington DC. in April of 1999.
A1a2ana3's Home Page 4
Here is their official site Unlocking Autism it is still under construction
Unlocking Autism

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