Fw: April 8, 2000 Autism Awareness Rally

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Re: rally newsletter entry-Reply

The April 8, 2000 Rally

The Purpose: TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AUTISM !! Nothing more,

nothing less.

Ark, Inc., will hold a rally on the Mall, in Washington DC on April 8, 2000.

Several

dates were discussed and this date was picked to avoid conflicts with other

events, and to attempt to generate interest among our legislators while Congress

is in session. April is also National Autism Awareness Month (NAAM).

Furthermore, the ASA Board of Directors kindly voted to hold their Spring 2000

Board meeting in conjunction with the rally.

The goal of the event is to draw as much media attention to the autism

community as possible in a professional manner. This will be done by focusing

on the larger scope of problems that we as parents/grandparents face on a daily

basis.....the need for educational access, the need for increased funding for

research, etc., rather than focusing on the more individual needs.....such as

any particular medical intervention, or a particular philosophy of educational

programming. This is a day for the entire autism community to set aside past

philosophical differences and stand together, at least for this one day. All of

the various groups are invited. We cannot achieve what our children and loved

ones need if the public doesn't know we exist. We must work together to achieve

the broader, common goals before individual families and persons can hope to

find answers to their more specific needs. However, we also believe that it is

important to " put a face on autism " and to give the nation an opportunity to see

the variety of INDIVIDUALS affected by the SPECTRUM of autism. Unlocking

Autism's photo display, with the faces of autistic individuals will be unveiled

at the rally, as will the first ever (that I am aware of) Autism Quilt.

Please do what you can to spread the word and , join us on The Mall in our

nations capital on April 8, 2000 to " Hear~their~Silence. "

For more information visit Ark, Inc.'s web site at www.ark-inc.org ; call

1.877.NOAUTISM, or contact Jeff Sell @ .

Peacefully,

Jeff Sell

www.jeffsell.com

jeff@...

jzsell@...