Obama Announces $92 Million in Stimulus Funds for Autism Research
President Barack Obama announced a plan on Wednesday to dedicate $5 billion to medical and scientific research, medical supplies and upgrading laboratory capacity, as part of an overall $100 billion Recovery Act investment in science and technology. Importantly, Obama's announcement also included a commitment to funding $92 million into autism research.
| National Town Hall Meeting Will Address the Needs of Adults with Autism | |||
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Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), a consortium of leading autism advocacy organizations and service providers focused on addressing the need for effective services for adolescents and adults with autism, will hold a national Town Hall meeting at sixteen different sites across the country on November 13 with the goal of developing an actionable national policy agenda | ||
Autism Speaks Applauds Obama Administration for Signing UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Last Thursday, Autism Speaks' President, Mark Roithmayr, joined representatives from several disabilities organizations at a reception for the United States' signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The reception was hosted by H.E. Ms. Susan Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, and The Honorable Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement. The United States became the 142nd country to sign the Convention.
Pictured L-R: The Honorable Ms. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement; Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations, Ambassador Susan Rice; and Ms. Annebeth Rosenboom, Chief of the Treaty Section, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations.
President Obama
made history by stating his intent to sign the CRPD at the commemoration of the
19th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In a proclamation,
here, President Obama officially announced
the United States' plan to sign the CRPD, the first new human rights convention
of the 21st century adopted by the United Nations. The signing of this
convention represents “a paradigm shift in protecting the human rights of 650
million people with disabilities worldwide.”
According to the United Nations, the CRPD urges equal protection and equal
benefits under the law for all citizens, rejects discrimination in all its
forms, and calls for the full participation and inclusion in society of all
persons with disabilities. The underlying themes of the Convention include
respect, dignity, inclusion and accessibility, among others, which are directly
in line with Autism Speaks' national efforts to raise awareness, advocate for
the needs of individuals with autism and their families, and fund much-needed
research. In December 2008, Autism Speaks became the first and only autism
organization to become an associated non governmental organization (NGO) with
the UN Department of Public Information (DPI/NGO) and eagerly looks forward to
supporting the U.S. Government in its efforts to ratify CRPD.
Do You Want to be in a World Autism Video?
On September
22, 2009, First Ladies and dignitaries from around the world will attend Autism
Speaks' Second Annual United Nations World Focus on Autism. At this meeting,
Academy Award-nominated director Alfonso Cuarón and Grammy-nominated
songwriter/producer Billy Mann will unveil their video “I am Autism.”
Alfonso and Billy need your help to create this unique film – send us video
footage of people from around the world who are on the autism spectrum. The
footage will underscore the gravity of this global health crisis, and inform
those in a position to effect a change. Alfonso and Billy are looking for
footage of people of all ages, all socioeconomic backgrounds and all
ethnicities.
We need three video clips per submission.
The first
clip is:
A person on the spectrum wearing a plain white t-shirt filmed alone in a place
that is special to your family. It can be landmark (Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, etc.)
skyline, town square, backyard, schoolyard, amusement area or somewhere else of
your choosing.
The second
clip we need is:
Have the same person stand in the same spot this time surrounded by family
members.
All the people in the shot should be wearing white T-shirts. Please film both
shots in the same camera angle.
The third clip we need is:
Film closer angles of the family – interacting, smiling, holding hands, hugging
etc.
Click the links below to see visual examples for filming the best spot.
Shots 1 and 2, example 1
Shots 1 and 2, example 2
Shot 3 Examples
Please try and do all three shots with the camera not moving.
Please keep your video footage to no longer than 3 minutes in length and please
have all submissions by August 17, 2009. Please use the best video camera
available to you.
All individuals appearing in the video must read, complete, and
send us the Personal Release and Copyright Grant found
here. In the case of any minor appearing
in the video, a parent or guardian must also complete the release on the minor's
behalf.
All submissions will be the property of Autism Speaks.
The final piece will be posted on
www.AutismSpeaks.org after the September
premiere.
There are several ways that you can get the footage to us:
FTP Upload:
ftp://ftp.broadwayvideo.com/edit/Incoming/AutismSpeaks/
Username = ftpguest
Password = bv1619
This anonymous guest login allows "drop" only privileges in the folder. You will
not be able to see files dropped into the folder after transfer.
 | Please upload only individual files with unique filenames. |
| File size cannot exceed 1GB |
| Please upload the Personal Release and Copyright Grant along with your video |
If you are
unable to upload the Personal Release and Copyright Grant along with your video,
you can send it by mail it to the address below or by fax to (212) 252-8676.
Mail:
Send your tapes or DVDs to:
Bill Shea, Autism Speaks
2 Park Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016 USA
(212) 252-8584
Include the Personal Release and Copyright Grant
If you have questions about the requirements above, please contact
editors@autismspeaks.org.
Autism Society of America and AMC
Entertainment® Host Sensory Friendly Films
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!
AMC Entertainment (AMC) and ASA have teamed up to begin testing a pilot program to bring families affected by autism a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis. “Sensory Friendly Films” are premiering across the country this month with a special showing of the new animated film Star Wars: Clone Wars.
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that affects a person’s
ability to communicate and interact with others. It often comes with sensory
challenges, such as hypersensitivity to light or sound, and children or adults
affected by autism may not understand the social boundaries of movie theatre
etiquette, such as not talking during the film or sitting still through most of
the show.
In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique
audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound
turned down. Additionally, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not
be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.
Sensory Friendly Films will pilot in 10 markets this month. Tickets prices vary by location and can be purchased on the day of the event. Each event will begin at 10 a.m. local time on August 23 in the following locations:
AMC Barton Creek 14
2901 Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, TX 78746
For more locations, please visit
http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr011=ywuzx5nym1.app24a&page=NewsArticle&id=11873&news_iv_ctrl=-1
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