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Cosac's Action Advocates for Autism Program: Lobbying for Change
 From the November 2001 Early Childhood newsletter.In [the October 2001] issue, we told you about First Signs, Inc. and its work to promote developmental screening and awareness of autism. In this issue, we'd like to tell you about one of its collaborators, COSAC (The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community). In addition to collaborating with First Signs on its physician and parent mailings, COSAC has its own program designed to promote awareness of autism. Parents as Advocates COSAC's Action Advocates for Autism program was founded in 1990 with the goal of encouraging parents of children with autism to become advocates for services in New Jersey's state and local legislative arena. COSAC sends Advocates updates on pending legislation and encourages them to contact their state legislators by writing letters, making phone calls, or testifying at hearings. "Before [the program was founded], there was no way for parents to work together for systemic change in the way [funding and early intervention] services are delivered to children and families," says Brenna Fach, COSAC's Coordinator of Government Affairs. "We wanted to get parents involved in the process. If we make a change on a systemic level, it will impact communities much more [than if people try to secure services on their own.]" The program seems to be working. "Legislators want to hear from parents in order to make sure legislation addresses [families'] needs," Ms. Fach explains. Recent accomplishments include securing more research funds, getting individual town leaders to issue proclamations during Autism Awareness Month, and lobbying for increased funding for residential programs that serve adults with autism. Present and Future Currently, Advocates are lobbying legislators to pass a pending bill that would provide more aid to local school districts for services for children with autism whose education costs are greater than $40,000 a year. This increased funding would be dedicated specifically to students with autism rather than being added to a district's general special education allocation. "Hopefully, the bill will be passed in this session," reports Ms. Fach. In the future, Ms. Fach would like the Advocates program to involve older children and adults with autism. Aside from being able to offer a better perspective on autism for legislators and officials, Ms. Fach would like the program to expand its goals to also teaching self-advocacy. Apparently, the program's goals and activities have resonated in the community. Since the program's inception, the number of Advocates has increased steadily to 165. While most are parents, Ms. Fach reports that directors of school and community programs can also be found in the program's ranks. New Jersey residents interested in becoming an Action Advocate (or anyone interested in starting such a program in their own state) can check out the details on COSAC's web site.
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