One mother of a school-aged son with autism had this dream:
If I had an opportunity to discuss autism with First Lady Michelle Obama, here's what I'd want to talk about:
Below the fold, text of the petition. If you want to sign, go here. Tell your friends.
Text of the petition:
Ask Michelle Obama to Meet With Autism Families
We, the undersigned, propose that Michelle Obama meet with Shannon Des Roches Rosa and Jennifer Byde Myers, representatives of the autism community, to discuss effective strategies to provide urgently needed assistance to overstressed autism families.
We believe that an Autism Corps, based on the Teach for America model, can create an army of trained volunteers to effect this assistance by providing four to fourteen weekly hours of one-to-one in-home support for people with autism.
We believe autism families' immediate need for day-to-day assistance with their autistic family members supersedes discussion of ongoing autism research and causation.
We believe in supporting measures that benefit all autism families.
Background
Target: Those who believe in providing support for ALL families affected by autism.
Background (Preamble): We would like to propose that Michelle Obama meet with Shannon Des Roches Rosa and Jennifer Byde Myers, two parents representing two very different autism families' perspectives, to discuss creating an Autism Corps or other measure that will address one of the most pressing needs of families affected by autism: one-to-one in-home support.
Thousands of American children and adults have autism diagnoses, and their ranks are swelling. While autism shouldn't be demonized, we need to be frank: having a child with autism is more stress than some families can handle. There often aren't enough trained professionals providing autism services -- and in areas where autism professionals are abundant, many families can't afford their services. Those families have needs that take precedence over panels and promises and research; they need help getting through the day, and they need it now.
Michelle and Barack Obama have spearheaded a campaign to encourage service. Millions of energetic and idealistic young adults want work but can't find jobs. Our president has said that he "...believes we must work to guarantee that Americans with ASD [autism spectrum disorder] can live independent and fully productive lives and to assure that their families understand and are able to support a loved one with ASD."
We would like to discuss taking those three factors and combining them into a nationwide organization dedicated to training volunteers to aid kids and adults with autism: an Autism Corps, based on the Teach For America urgent action model, to provide autism families in need with between four and fourteen hours of weekly care.
Autism Corps workers could be trained to help individuals with autism gain skills and independence, and have recreation opportunities. They could give their families some sorely-needed respite. They could make a real difference for families approaching a breaking point. And, like Teach for America alumni, Autism Corps volunteers would have a permanent interest and investment in autism rights and issues, thereby continuing to raise awareness of autism needs in general.
We believe that an Autism Corps model is the best way to support all families affected by autism. If you agree, and you think Michelle Obama should meet with Shannon Des Roches Rosa and Jennifer Byde Myers to discuss the matter, then please sign our petition. Thank you.
Here's the original page. Here's the page to sign the petition.
Update March 8, 2010. Following a vile attack on Shannon, her son, and the rest of her family at a blog I will not name or link to, Shannon has given me permission to post this. It is hardly a secret that Squid is Shannon Rosa. Shannon Rosa is an autism advocate not only for her son and her family, but for all parents of children with autism and all people with autism. Read her blog at BlogHer: Shannon Rosa's Blog
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