Southeastern Connecticut Autism Spectrum Association

Upcoming Events Items of Interest

	Meetings Minutes for meeting 2-24-05 Only two brave souls ventured out in the twilight of February 24th to the Preston Library! As long as we were there, we shared information and I am able to pass on some very pertinent and time-sensitive information. Information Next meeting: **Note the change in time.**  Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 5:30 (This is due to the fact that we have a guest speaker coming at 6:30 and we didn’t complete the agenda for Feb. as well as we didn’t set questions for the speaker, so we need to “chat” before the regular time.)     Discussion We need to act as one to counteract harmful legislation now being proposed.  The welfare of our children hinges on our support!   First:  It is very important to support these two proposed bills.   6117 – This bill will authorize more money to add needed caseworkers to service individuals who qualify.  Many individuals who already qualify are on a waiting list for a caseworker. There is a need for at least 60 more case workers to accommodate individuals already waiting!!!  The conundrum is – No caseworker – no services or funds!  The funds and services cannot be accessed by those who need them because they do not have a caseworker!   6118 – This bill concerns services for “Individuals with Developmental Disabilities”, thereby broadening the service base to include children with non-specific “labels”.   I have modified and attached a letter that demonstrates your support for these two bills and urges the legislator to support them as well. LETTER  TO  SOLICIT  SUPPORT  FOR  DMR  BUDGET  REQUEST     Date_____________________   Senator____________________   Or Representative _____________________   Legislative Office Building, Room # ________ Hartford, CT  06106-1591   I am a parent/friend/teacher of a child with special needs.   I ask that you support the DMR’s budget request for new case manager positions in next year’s budget,   Each year the DMR’s population served grows by approximately 300 individuals.  Not enough case managers have been added to keep pace with this growth.  It would take at least 60 case managers to bring the ratios to a reasonable level and to serve additional individuals expected to be added to the DMR caseload next year.   DMR has a budget request for additional case managers.  If this request is not funded, it will have an extremely negative affect on families.  Please support the funding of at least 60 new case manager’s positions in next year’s budget.   Thank you in advance for your attention and support on this matter.   Sincerely,     Name Street Address City, State, Zip Phone number email   Secondly: On the Federal front, there are 4 proposed bills that need to be opposed.  These bills relieve big business (drug & pharmaceutical companies) of responsibilities in creating safe & effective vaccines.  If these bills pass, all children will lose their rights should a vaccine cause harm.  They are:    S.3 S.366 HR534 HR650 “These bills will hurt our children’s rights and impede others’ abilities to get services and protection.”   The following bill needs our support: HR881 This bill will ban the harmful element of mercury from being used in vaccines.     What can you do?  Make a 5-minute phone call to the Senators who represent the bills.  Use the following “script” to guide your call. When you call the phone number for each person, use the following “script”.  You will not be talking to the Senator in question, you will be talking to a secretary or office staff.  It will be like responding to a survey, you just tell the person who answers the phone the information on the script.   Phone Survey Script       I would like ______________________________________         (insert name of Senator or Representative)     to Oppose bill(s): # S.3             # S.366 #HR534 #HR630   I would also like him to support bill HR881 when it arrives.   My name is _____________________________________     I live at: ________________________________________                  _________________________________________                 Stillman:  Appropriations Committee                   Town              District                 Contact Name                        Phone #                     email/website                            snail mail North    Stonington 43 State Representative Diana S. Urban Committees: Commerce, Environment, Planning & Development   1-800-842-8267 Diana.Urban@housegop.state.ct.us 146 Babcock Rd.                N. Stonington, Ct 06359 Stonington 43 State Representative Diana S. Urban Committees: Commerce, Environment, Planning & Development 1-800-842-1423 Diana.Urban@housegop.state.ct.us   146 Babcock Rd.                N. Stonington, Ct 06359 Montville 38     State Representative Elizabeth B. Ritter                              Committees: Appropriations, Energy & Technology, Public Health   1-800-842-8267   Elizabeth.Ritter@cga.ct.gov     Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4002    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Waterford 38 State Representative Elizabeth B. Ritter                              Committees: Appropriations, Energy & Technology, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Elizabeth.Ritter@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4002    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 New London 39   State Representative Ernest Hewett Committees: Appropriations, Labor & Public Employees, Public Safety 1-800-842-8267   Ernest.Hewett@cga.ct.gov   Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4052    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Canterbury 47 State Representative Jack Malone Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Jack.Malone@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4013    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Norwich 47 State Representative Jack Malone Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Jack.Malone@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4013    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Scotland 47 State Representative Jack Malone Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Jack.Malone@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4013    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Sprague 47 State Representative Jack Malone Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Jack.Malone@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4013    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Bozrah 139 State Representative Kevin Ryan Committees: Appropriations, Labor & Public Employees, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Kevin.Ryan@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3804   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Franklin 139 State Representative Kevin Ryan Committees: Appropriations, Labor & Public Employees, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Kevin.Ryan@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3804   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Montville 139 State Representative Kevin Ryan Committees: Appropriations, Labor & Public Employees, Public Health   1-800-842-8267   Kevin.Ryan@cga.ct.gov   Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3804   Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Groton     41 State Representative Lenny Winkler Committees: Finance, Judiciary, Public Health   1-800-842-1423 Lenny.Winkler@housegop.state.ct.us Legislative Bldg. Rm. 5008   Hartford, CT 06106-1591           151 Pamela Ave.        Groton, CT 06340 Norwich 46 State Representative Melissa Olson Committees: Judiciary, Labor & Public Employees, Public Health 1-800-842-8267 Melissa.Olson@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 5006    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Killingly 44 State Representative Michael Caron Committees: Finance, Human Services, Transportation 1-800-842-1423 Michael.Caron@housegop.state.ct.us 50 Carter St.          Danielson, CT 06239 Plainfield 44 State Representative Michael Caron Committees: Finance, Human Services, Transportation 1-800-842-1423                                                                                                     Michael.Caron@housegop.state.ct.us 50 Carter St.          Danielson, CT 06239 Sterling 44 State Representative Michael Caron Committees: Finance, Human Services, Transportation 1-800-842-1423 Michael.Caron@housegop.state.ct.us 50 Carter St.          Danielson, CT 06239 Griswold 45 State Representative Steve Mikutel Committees: Education, Public Safety, Transportation 1-800-842-8267 Steve.Mikutel@cga.ct.gov  Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4051    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Lisbon 45   State Representative Steve Mikutel Committees: Education, Public Safety, Transportation 1-800-842-8267   Steve.Mikutel@cga.ct.gov   Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4051    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Plainfield 45 State Representative Steve Mikutel Committees: Education, Public Safety, Transportation   1-800-842-8267 Steve.Mikutel@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4051    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Voluntown 45 State Representative Steve Mikutel Committees: Education, Public Safety, Transportation 1-800-842-8267 Steve.Mikutel@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 4051    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Groton     40     State Representative Ted Moukawsher                   Committees: Banks, Environment, Finance, Revenue, & Bonding 1-800-842-8267   Edward.Moukawsher@cga. ct.gov   Legislative Bldg. Rm. 5008   Hartford, CT 06106-1591   New London 40 State Representative Ted Moukawsher                   Committees: Banks, Environment, Finance, Revenue, & Bonding 1-800-842-8267 Edward.Moukawsher@cga.ct.gov  Legislative Bldg. Rm. 5008    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Ledyard 42 State Representative Tom Reynolds Committees: Appropriations, Education, Public Safety 1-800-842-8267 Tom.Reynolds@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 5007   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Montville 42 State Representative Tom Reynolds Committees: Appropriations, Education, Public Safety 1-800-842-8267 Tom.Reynolds@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 5007    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Preston 42 State Representative Tom Reynolds Committees: Appropriations, Education, Public Safety 1-800-842-8267 Tom.Reynolds@cga.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 East Lyme n/a State Senator Andrea Stillman Committees: General Law, Public Health, Regulations Review 1-800-842-1420 Stillman@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3200   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Montville n/a State Senator Andrea Stillman Committees: General Law, Public Health, Regulations Review 1-800-842-1420 Stillman@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3200   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 New London n/a  State Senator Andrea Stillman Committees: General Law, Public Health, Regulations Review 1-800-842-1420 Stillman@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3200   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Salem n/a State Senator Andrea Stillman Committees: General Law, Public Health, Regulations Review 1-800-842-1420 Stillman@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3200   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Waterford n/a State Senator Andrea Stillman Committees: General Law, Public Health, Regulations Review 1-800-842-1420 Stillman@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3200   Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Griswold n/a 45 State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418   Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov 43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355   Groton     n/a     State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418   Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov   43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355   North    Stonington n/a     State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418 Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov     43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355 Plainfield n/a State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418 Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov 43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355 Preston n/a State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418 Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov 43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355 Sterling n/a State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418 Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov 43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355 Stonington n/a State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418 Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov   43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355 Voluntown n/a State Senator Cathy Cook Committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Environment, Program Review, Public Health 1-800-842-1421 Fax:860-536-4418 Catherine.Cook@cga.ct.gov 43 Pequot Ave.           Mystic, CT 06355 Bozrah n/a     State Senator Edith Prague Committees: Labor & Public Employees, Aging, Appropriations, Exec. & Legis. Nominations 1-800-842-1420 Fax:    Prague@senatedems.ct.gov   Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Ledyard n/a   State Senator Edith Prague         Committees: Labor & Public Employees, Aging, Appropriations, Exec. & Legis. Nominations 1-800-842-1420     Prague@senatedems.ct.gov     Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Norwich n/a State Senator Edith Prague  Committees: Labor & Public Employees, Aging, Appropriations, Exec. & Legis. Nominations 1-800-842-1420 Prague@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Lisbon n/a   State Senator Edith Prague Committees: Labor & Public Employees, Aging, Appropriations, Exec. & Legis. Nominations 1-800-842-1420     Prague@senatedems.ct.gov     Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591   Montville n/a State Senator Edith Prague Committees: Labor & Public Employees, Aging, Appropriations, Exec. & Legis. Nominations 1-800-842-1420 Prague@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Sprague n/a State Senator Edith Prague Committees: Labor & Public Employees, Aging, Appropriations, Exec. & Legis. Nominations 1-800-842-1420 Prague@senatedems.ct.gov Legislative Bldg. Rm. 3800    Hartford, CT 06106-1591     All of  CT   U. S. Senator Chris Dodd           All of  CT   U.S. Joe Lieberman   http://lieberman.senate.gov   Eastern CT   US Congressman Rob Simmons Norwich office 860-886-0139 Fax:            860-886-2974 www.house.gov/simmons 2 Courthouse Sq.     Norwich, CT 06360

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