President declares Autism Epidemic.

Hello. There was a press release that was sent to the President requesting autism be known as a widespread epidemic. Please read the following and send an e-mail to the President. Thank you.

United States Autism Ambassador Requests President George w. Bush To Declare Autism a Pandemic (Widespread Epidemic)

United States Autism Ambassador Official Press Release:

WHERE AS, The United States Autism Ambassador Requests President George w. Bush To Declare Autism a Pandemic (Widespread Epidemic) and should be declared as a national health emergency to acquire state and federal funds necessary to ensure that each state has an Autism Center of Excellence, resources, training, therapy, treatment, diagnostic, educational options, and improved autism legislation. Distribution of the autism action plan will be implemented immediately within 30-45 days, so we as a nation will be ready for these alarming numbers of increases. Autism Ambassadors are being inducted in each state at the present time to begin implementing the Autism Action Plan and resolution process; And,

WHERE AS, The United States Autism Ambassador has sent a copy of this official declaration to President George Bush for his support in this matter of utmost importance.

WHERE AS, It is the hope and prayer of the United States Autism Ambassador that President George Bush would aide with federal funding in a quick and timely manner so we as a nation can begin to take a pragmatic and progressive approach on autism spectrum disorders in the United States; And,

WHERE AS, Autism is at a state of national medical emergency. With the continuing rates of growth we are now and have been for quite some time at an epidemic proportion level of increasing amounts of individuals with an autism spectrum disorders also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders and needs direct attention immediately; And,

WHERE AS; US Department of Education Statistics On Autism in 1999-2000 reports indicate that in some states we are at an alarming rate of increase. Illinois is at an alarming rate of 48,600% increase, other states are at an infinite % of increase, and warrants immediate attention; And,

WHERE AS, A result of Autism, an estimated over 500,000 individuals in the United States have lost the ability to communicate and interact with others; And,

WHERE AS, Parents and professionals have requested a new position of a United States Autism Ambassador to act as a liaison for the best interest of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and was nominated by the people; And,

WHERE AS, This year it has been determined by the Autism Society of Wisconsin that 1 out of every 53 babies born daily in the United States would in later years be diagnosed with one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. In Iowa we have over 5,000 Individuals with autism; And,

WHERE AS, Dr Marie Bristol-Powers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development stated that autism spectrum disorders is not rare. In fact it is a pressing health problem; And,

WHERE AS, the recently released Center for Disease Control and Prevention report found that autism spectrum disorders occurred 1 in every 150 individuals; And,

WHERE AS, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, enrollment will be 55.9 million by the year 2005. At least 800,000 educational personal will be needed to serve these students; And,

WHERE AS, today Autism Spectrum Disorders is more common then Downs Syndrome, Diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, and many forms of Childhood Cancer; And,

WHERE AS, Professionals and Organizations worldwide are working together in one great effort to raise awareness, diagnostic, treatment, therapy, and educational options, resources, support, and legislation; And,

WHERE AS, caring for people with autism costs more than $13 billion per year, and the majority of these costs are borne by the families of individuals with autism. These parents have sacrificed tremendously to provide the specialized treatments, specialized training, education, and support services that their children need; And,

WHERE AS, even sadder is the fact that 40-48% of the individuals around the world with autism spectrum disorders never receives the current diagnosis, waivers, resources, or support they need. These individuals slip silently into the cracks; And,

WHERE AS, there is hope and in 2001-2002 Legislators, State Ambassadors, US Ambassadors, Autism Council, and many other Autism Organizations are in each state working for better services, resources, and programs for families and individuals with autism spectrum disorders. In the 2001-2002 legislative session we are taking a progressive and pragmatic approach on autism related issues; And,

WHERE AS, the United States Autism Ambassador shall establish and administer the State Autism Ambassador Program. It shall be the function of the US Autism Ambassador to act as a liaison to The State Ambassadors to help them fulfill their duties as state autism Ambassador in the state that they reside in. The United States Autism Ambassador will administer and implement the Autism First Steps Autism Action Plan, so we as a United States will be prepared for the increases of individuals with autism in future years; And,

WHERE AS, we as a nation will be ready for the increases of the population with autism spectrum disorders with an autism action plan; And,

WHERE AS, As a State Ambassador each person will have many duties to perform and execute ranging from awareness, legislative, media, guest speaking on occasion, Implement the First Steps Autism Action Plan and Programs, and more. Each State Ambassador will work closely with the United States Ambassador and CO-Ambassador, Autism Council, and Legislators, Educators, Medical Professionals, and General Public; And,

THEREFORE, be it known that I the United States Autism Ambassador declare Autism in a Medical Emergency; And,

THEREFORE, be it further known that It takes one person to lead... One person to assist with change ... one person to send a message of unity, of awareness, and the national epidemic we now call autism. We need to send a message of one, One Voice, Will Be Heard! One Voice, One Individual/Child, One Story at a time! Together we can make a difference for children in every state. As an ambassador I beseech you to pick up a piece of the autism puzzle and stand beside your state ambassador help us as we bring change to the United States, By the People, For The People; And,

THEREFORE, be it known that autism spectrum disorders is reaching Epidemic proportions, and should be treated as such. Each State Autism Ambassador will take a pragmatic and progressive approach within their home state on issues related to autism to ensure health and welfare of the families of individuals with autism spectrum disorders; And,

NOW THEREFORE, LD Wedewer, United States Autism Ambassador DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT I REQUEST PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TO DECLARE AUTISM A PANDEMIC (Wide Spread Epidemic); AND,

NOW THEREFORE; UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF PANDEMIC/EPIDEMIC RULES I, AM 24 BILLION DOLLARS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUTISM AWAKENING AUTISM CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EACH STATE TO PUT IN PLACE A STATE TO STATE AUTISM ACTION PLAN; AND,

NOW THEREFORE; I REQUEST THAT $44.2 BILLION BE PROVIDED TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S AUTISM NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF BIOMEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH; OUTREACH PROGRAMS, DISEASE PREVENTION, AND HEALTH PROMOTION; HEALTH SERVICES FOR AUTISM MEDICALLY UNDESERVED POPULATIONS; HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION; I URGE PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TO PROVIDE FULL FUNDING TO PROVIDE FULL FUNDING FOR THIS CRITICAL EFFORT; THEREBY STRENGTHENING BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY ALSO LAYS A FOUNDATION FOR ADDRESSING ALL AUTISM'S DISABLING CONDITIONS; AND,

NOW THEREFORE; EACH STATE AUTISM AMBASSADOR WILL IMPLEMENT THE AUTISM ACTION PLAN. THE AUTISM ACTION PLAN WILL TAKE EACH PROFESSION AND SUPPLY THEM WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH THESE INCREASES AS WELL AS HANDOUT BROCHURES, BOOKLETS, AND OTHER MATERIALS THEY WILL NEED FOR THEIR CLIENTS, PATIENTS, AND STUDENTS. THE AUTISM ACTION PLAN ALSO REQUESTS SPONSORSHIP FOR IMPROVED AUTISM LEGISLATION; AND,

THEREFORE; IN ADDITION I URGE PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TO SIGN A QUICK AND SPEEDY DECLARATION FOR THE FUNDING OF THE AUTISM ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE WE AS A UNITED STATES WILL BE READY FOR THESE INCREASES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM; AND,

NOW THEREFORE; IN ADDITION I AM REQUESTING 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS TO BE EARMARKED FOR INDIVIDUAL FAMILY AUTISM TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE.

NOW THEREFORE, LD Wedewer, United States Autism Ambassador DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT I AM REQUESTING THE STATE AUTISM AMBASSADORS TO DO THE SAME WITHIN THEIR HOME STATES AS WELL AS BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE AUTISM ACTION PLAN, SO WE AS A NATION WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE INCREASES OF AMOUNTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM.

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ADVOCATE ALERT: ACTION NEEDED NOW!

If you are interested in helping to see that this gets passed make sure to e-mail the president at: president@whitehouse.gov

FAX the President at: 202-456-2461

URGE the President to sign the declaration and request that he approves the proposed funds for we as a nation are ready. Now is the time to stand up and speak out. Remember to urge the president and your legislators to work with the State Autism Ambassadors to bring a fast resolve to this emergency situation we now know as autism.