AUTISM CHILDREN AND ADULTS GOING HOMELESS ON LONG ISLAND

....AUTISM CHILDREN AND ADULTS GOING HOMELESS ON LONG ISLAND. NOT ENOUGH HOUSING IN REGION TO TREAT THOSE WITH AUTISM. CHILDREN ARE BEING SHIPPED AWAY TO OTHER STATES. NO HEALTH BENEFITS CAUSING BANKRUPTCY, COUNTY AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO INVESTIGATE, MAJOR LI PROTEST & PRESS CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY SEPT 29th

COUNTY EXECUTIVE SUOZZI AND CONGRESSWOMAN McCARTHY JOINS ALMOST 500 OUTRAGED PARENTS AND 30 AUTISM ADVOCACY GROUPS AND LEADERS IN MAJOR PROTEST FOR AUTISM REFORM AS THEIRS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING ON LONG ISLAND FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM, DISABLED CHILDREN ARE BEING SHIPPED OFF LONG ISLAND. THOUSANDS OF LOCAL FAMILIES ARE GOING INTO BANKRUPTCY AND FORECLOSURE CAUSING CRISIS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi , United States Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and Officials from Autism Speaks will join with almost 500 outraged parents and over 30 autism group organization advocates and leaders in a major protest and rally on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 11:30am at Adelphi University to call for housing on Long Island and Autism Reform in the State of New York . Children with autism are going homeless. There is not enough housing on Long Island for adults and children with autism. They are being shipped out of State and away from the region. Local families are also going bankrupted and loosing their homes due to the high cost associated with care of a child with autism. It can cost a family over 50,000 to provide proper health and medical care for children diagnosed with autism.

Approximately one in every 150 children in the United States has autism or a closely related disorder. Autism is one of the top 10 neurobiological disorders — and the only one for which insurance companies refuse to cover the cost of treatment and medical care. Recently, the states of Texas, Pennslyvania. Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana passed autism reform legislation. Long Island also has a has a autism housing shortage. There are not enough residential facilities in the region causing children to be hundreds of miles from home and costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

WHEN: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009, 11:30 am

WHERE: ADELPHI UNIVERSITY , GARDEN CITY

RUTH S. HARTLEY UNIVERSITY CENTER ,

SECOND FLOOR,BALLROOM 201

Contact Dianne Cahill

631-612-8884

AUTISM COALITION OF NASSAU COUNTY

- MEDIA RELATIONS

Please Join Model/Actress Christina Mendez in her support of Autism Mont

We would love you to join Team Mendez at this year’s Walk Now for Autism. The Walk is scheduled for June 14^th @ South Street Seaport. Please sign-up at

http://www.walknowforautism.org/nyc/teammendez

and click “Join Our Team”.

If you are not located in New York or you can't make it out that day, donations (big or small) are greatly appreciated using the same link. Your generous donations will be matched by Verizon. Example: If you donate $5.00 Verizon will match that by donating another $5.00.

Help Team Mendez and Damian reach our 2009 fundraising goal of $5,000.

Christina's son was diagnosed with Autism at 2-years-old. She stopped her dream of becoming a model to care for her son, Damian. Now 9 years later she is taking the fashion industry by storm with her charm, drive and captivating smile. In a previous interview, Ms. Mendez said "I put my dream on hold for my priority, which is my son. I am thankful to say that he has developed into a smart and loving young man. He is one of my biggest fans and my inspiration. Now that I have an audience and fan base I want to take this opportunity and help spread the message about Autism."

XOXO,

Christina & Damian

Website: www.christinamendez.com

About Walk For Autism

Walk Now for Autism, the nation's largest grassroots autism walk program, is Autism Speaks' signature fundraising and awareness event, taking place in communities across the United States, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. Powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism spectrum, this successful grassroots fundraising effort not only generates vital funds for autism research but also raises awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder

To see a current list of walk sites please visit: http://www.walknowforautism.org.

NEW YORK'S DISABILITY COMMUNITY REACHES OUT TO ''KING OF POP'' MICHAEL JACKSON TO GO ON THE COMEBACK TOUR

New York’s disabled community reaches out to perform at Michael Jackson’s comeback tour. One of New York’s largest disabled and individuals with special needs organizations, Family Residence Essential Enterprise (FREE), based in New York, is reaching out to music legend Michael Jackson upon hearing his announced on March 5, 2009. Jackson is looking to mount a thriller of a comeback after not performing in more than a decade and the Feeplayers were thrilled to hear it. After performing Thriller over a 100 times they are confident in reaching out to Jackson to help him brush up on his moves or teach him a few new ones.

Jackson’s comeback has erupted idea’s of being a coming out for the Freeplayers who have worked hard, despite all obstacles, to replicate the dances from the 1982 video. It would be an honor to be recognized for all of their hard work and tributes to the king of pop. “Our 3,000 individuals with special needs still today look up to Jackson as one of the greatest performers of the 20th century” says Jeff Cohen, Director of Gift Planning.

He is not only an idol for the Freeplayers but his devotion in raising money for charities and non-profits has sparked Free’s imagination on how to give back and the group is rigorously reaching out and has high hopes in becoming the new Jackson 5 for 2009.

About National Foundation for Human Potential

The National Foundation for Human Potential through Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), benefits more than 3,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness or traumatic brain injury and their families each year on Long Island.

E-mail: pradowitz@familyres.org