Asking for Support

Delegate David Poisson is a chief supporter of HB 1588. Delegate Poisson knows that passing this bill will save the government an enormous amount of money in the long-run because individuals who do not receive early intervention services may end up in an institution. Each person who is institutionalized costs tax payers millions of dollars each year. Delegate Poisson sees the big picture and realizes that early action and assistance by the government, means saving big bucks for taxpayers in the long run!

–Jenny Viar

I chose to e-mail AutismSpeaks because they are nation's top private funder of autism research. I feel that they hold a very important role in autism legislation because through their web sites, outreach programs, walks, and social networks they have raised public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society. Their commitment to the people effected by this disorder and their passion for finding a cure make them very important to this and other autism bills.
-Jenny Hunter

I contacted Karen McCormick, a representative for a pharmaceutical company, who has also previously worked as an RN. She is the mother two sons, one of which has pervasive developmental disorder. Morgan and I worked with her family to provide respite care as part of our Pediatrics class. She is not only knowledgeable about healthcare, but is also familiar with the extra care needed for children with Autism and similar disorders, including speech training.

-Susan Atkison

I chose to e-mail Congressman J. Randy Forbes because he has previously been in support of other bills pertaining to Autism and related health care. In 2008 he supported legislation (H.Res. 1106) that was in support of making April 2008 “National Autism Awareness Month.” H. Res. 1006 also supported efforts to devote new resources to research into the treatment and causes of Autism and also to better the training and support for individuals with Autism and their caregivers. I feel that Congressman Randy Forbes. Congressman Forbes realizes that Autism care is costly and takes a lot of time and energy from both the patient and their caregiver and he also supports awareness for the disorder.

–Morgan Gentry

Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott is an advocate for health care improvements. While he has been a congressman he has sponsored bills to provide health insurance coverage for children and pregnant women throughout the United States by combining the children and pregnant woman health coverage under Medicaid and SCHIP into a new All Healthy Children Program, and co-sponsored H.R.676 which provides comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes. Congressman Scott may be in favor of the HB 1588 bill, since it would further help with health care and insurance coverage.

-Jessie Maas

I contacted congressman Jim Moran, elected to his tenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2008. He represents the 8th district of Virginia, which includes Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church and Reston. Congressman Moran believes that the U.S. healthcare system should be focused more on preventive care. This bill supports early treatment for autistic children, which would ultimately lead to fewer treatments in later years for the majority of these people. His support of HB 1588 could help raise awareness within the U.S. House of Representatives.

-Sarah Buhrman