Autistic Kids Need Your Help Now 2008-05-10

CLOates
10 May 2008
Norman, OK, USA

Autistic Kids Need Your Help Now
in the Oklahoma Legislature

The following is a letter I sent today to my former and current workmates and my kids (Carri and Dustin). I solicit your IMMEDIATE help, too.

Prof. Oates

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Hi guys,

If you can render some aid and comfort by giving your friendly, local Oklahoma legislator a nudge in the ribs (or a frying pan over the head! [I'm kidding, of course]) to keep insurance companies in Oklahoma from excluding autism treatments from their coverage, I'd really appreciate it. See the information below.

This issue struck pretty close to home recently through one of my best students whose little boy was diagnosed with autism a few months ago.

TIA for your help,

Chuck


P.S. Please forward this to your current workmates, friends, and family members ASAP, before the legislature permanently bottles up the bill to require Oklahoma health insurance policies to cover treatment for autism. The cost of treating autism surely shouldn't be borne by individuals, in ADDITION to their health insurance costs. Would we exclude, say, strokes because they're expensive to treat? Well, obviously the insurance companies would, left to their own devices.

There's nothing the pusillanimous politicians fear more than a torrent of incoming messages from constituents. It might even overcome their fear of losing financial support from the insurance companies they're "protecting," to the detriment of all the rest of us. --CLO

________________________________________________
Charles L. "Chuck" Oates
e-mail: Chuck@ChuckOates.com web: www.ChuckOates.com

from AutismSpeaks.org--see www.autismvotes.org/oklahoma

-----Original Message-----
From: Shelley Hendrix, Autism Speaks [mailto:advocacy@autismspeaks.org]
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 6:16 AM
To: Charles & Mrs. Sue Oates
Subject: Urge Oklahoma House Speaker Benge to Bring Nick's Law Up for an IMMEDIATE Vote!!

Autism Votes... It's time for lawmakers to listen.

Dear Oklahoma Autism Advocate,

This is a critical time for autism advocates in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge is refusing to hold a vote on Nick's Law!! Nick's law will require insurance companies to provide health care coverage of autism related services, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Wayne Rohde and Dee Blose have been doing a fantastic job representing families with autism in Oklahoma, and we are down to the last two weeks of the session.

Speaker Benge needs to hear from you TODAY! How Can You Help?

1. CALL Speaker Benge's office! Let the Speaker know how much Nick's Law is needed by families in Oklahoma. Urge the Speaker to bring Nick's Law up for an immediate vote in the House.Call Speaker Benge at (405) 557-7340!

2. CALL your own member of the Oklahoma House! Find out who represents YOU and their phone number by going to Autism Votes.

3. Follow up your calls by SENDING AN EMAIL to Speaker Benge and YOUR OWN House Representative with the same message: Schedule a House Vote!

4. Forward this email to everyone you know!! Tell them to CALL the Speaker and send Emails TODAY!!!

Help get Oklahoma's kids with autism the health care coverage they need and deserve. Sign up now at www.autismvotes.org/oklahoma for breaking news and action alerts in Oklahoma.

Thank you!

Shelley Hendrix
Director of State Advocacy RelationsAutism Speaks



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