ABOUT Washington Autism Advocacy

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ABOUTWashington Autism Advocacy

• A grass roots state-wide coalition of families
  with children affected by an autism spectrum
  disorder.
• Our mission is to create positive change to
  appropriately support our children through
  advocacy and new legislation.
• Founded in 2007 by Arzu Forough, the parent of
  two children with autism, WAA has become a
  leading voice in the rights of children with
  autism in Washington state.

www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org
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YES!!! Autism Insurance Parityin Washington
State 2009

• Proven therapies to care for a child with autism
  can cost up to 50,000 a year. Many families have
  exhausted every financial resource they have
  available to care for their child. The financial
  strain of raising a child with autism is
  enormous, leaving families in dire financial
  conditions.
• Some families have been forced to sell their
  homes. Some have had no other choice but to file
  bankruptcy. Others are left unable to provide
  their child with proven therapies. Enough is
  enough!
• Autism in an epidemic with 1 in every 150
  children receiving a diagnosis on the autism
  spectrum. There are more than 6,000 children in
  Washington state with an autism diagnosis.
• Autism is an equal opportunity condition, and
  isnt limited to only those who can afford
  non-covered therapies. All children deserve to
  be given equal access to proven therapies that
  will help them become productive members of
  society.

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YES!!! Autism Insurance Parityin Washington
State 2009

• The estimated impact of insurance costs in
  Washington state with a mandated insurance
  benefit is very slight only 0.0023.
• AIP is sweeping the nation! Eight other states
  have a similar level of coverage, 6 other states
  have pending AIP legislation, and 21 more states
  are proposing AIP legislation in 2009. Its time
  for Washington state to get on board!

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AUTISM FACTS

• Autism is a complex developmental disorder that
  typically appears in the first three years of
  life and currently affects 1 in every 150
  children.
• There is no known cause or cure for autism.
• The treatments recommended by the national
  standards are not covered by any WA insurers or
  major employers except for Microsoft (Premera)
  and Active Army (Tricare Echo).
• Autism is not a qualifying diagnosis for children
  under 6 years old by the WA Division of
  Developmental Disabilities
• The divorce rate in families of children with
  Autism is over 80.
• Washington state leads the nation in
  institutionalizing children with Autism and other
  related disabilities.

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Autism is term used to describe a group of
complex developmental brain disorders known as
Autism Spectrum Disorders.The spectrum
includesAutismAspergers SyndromePervasive
Developmental Disorder not otherwise
specifiedPDD (NOS)
Describing Autism
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AIP Legislation Includes

• Diagnosis of ASD by a licensed physician or
  psychologist.
• Definition includes Autism, Aspergers Syndrome,
  and PDD-NOS.
• Speech, Occupational, Physical, and ABA
  therapies.
• Psychiatric and Psychological care.
• Rehabilitative and Habilitative care.
• Children covered from birth to 21 years of age.
• All therapy is subject to an annual limit of
  50,000, but NOT subject to a limit of the number
  of annual visits

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Making AIP A LAW

• Washington Autism Advocacy, together with other
  advocacy groups, is working to make Autism
  Insurance Parity a law in Washington state.
• We have been busy pounding the grass roots
  pavement to educate and recruit people to become
  active in our state-wide efforts.
• We have held legislative coffee meetings at WAA
  members houses where dozens of families
  participated.
• The AIP bill is in the process of finishing the
  Sunrise Review through the Department of Health.
• We have bi-partisan support for the AIP bill with
  Senator Rasmussen and Representative Loomis
  leading the charge.
• Next step is to file the bill for the 2009
  legislative session.

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How Can you Help?

• Contact your state legislators and tell them you
  support AIP.
• Sign-up to receive WAA Action Alerts
  washingtonautismadvocacy.org.
• Rally with us for change to support children with
  autism events will be posted on our website
  beginning in December.
• Wear your support of AIP by purchasing AIP
  Campaign apparelwww.cafepress.com/waautismadv.

Together, we WILL make a difference for our
children!