Press Releases

March 27, 2008

World Autism Awareness Day

Last December 2007, the United Nations declared April 2, 2008 to be World Autism Awareness Day in perpetuity. Since then, there has been a steadily growing stream of information about and coverage of Autism  in major media outlets. Of course, this kind of major attention can only help, and also helps bring attention to the many other issues many of us face as special needs parents.

Adding to the swirl of information about Autism has been the controversial decision last November 2007 by the National Vaccination Injury Compensation Program (VICP) that a vaccine containing Thimerosol may have caused the onset of Autism in a 9-year old girl.

A few weeks ago, we posted here an entry on sites about Autism that we like. There are many more sites about Autism and other diseases and disabilities that we did not have room to list, so please let us know about sites and blogs you trust.

In the meantime, here are a few sites about World Autism Awareness Day and some of the events surrounding it.

http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/site/c.egLMI2ODKpF/b.3917065/
http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Autism-Speaks-to-Celebrate-World-Autism-Awareness-Day-with-Day-Long-Series-of-International-Events-on-April-2-14013-1/
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/night_of_too_many_stars/index.jhtml
http://autism.about.com/b/2008/03/16/cnn-wants-your-stories-and-questions-about-autism-for-a-full-day-of-coverage.htm

Thomas Falconer
carespace.com

February 01, 2008

Special Needs Parents Post Petition

The Special Needs Parent blog pointed me to an online petition that proposes to lobby the U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, State Congressmen, State Senators, and Governors for tax breaks associated with caring for a special needs child.

I don’t have to tell you that our entire health care system is under intense scrutiny and a source of great debate as we head toward a presidential election. Our opportunity as parents of special needs children to inject our voices into that debate is clear.

So take a look at the petition, sign it, and pass it on if that suits you. I couldn’t sign it fast enough. I’m signature number 10,123.

Brian Costello
Carespace.com