Missouri Autism Coalition

Missouri Senate Press Release: August 27, 2007

MISSOURI SENATE

Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism Makes Stop in St. Louis 

JEFFERSON CITY — Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, will chair the next Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism
meeting this Friday, August 31st from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the University of Missouri-St. Louis’s Millennium Student Center, 8001 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis.    
“We are in the homestretch of our summer-long effort to get our hands around this autism epidemic that
hits one out of 150 children in this country.  That’s more than AIDS, juvenile diabetes, and cancer combined,” said Sen. Rupp.  “I am looking forward to compiling this information with my fellow panel members to come up with an effective strategy to deal with autism in the future.”   
This meeting will feature U.S. Senator Christopher Bond talking about the Parents as Teachers program
and how it relates to autism.  Experts will also testify on medical issues related to autism and its diagnosis.  The public will also get the chance to offer its comments.  Contact Sen. Rupp’s office at (573) 751-1282 to schedule a time.
After this St. Louis meeting, the last scheduled meeting for the panel will be September 28th in Kansas
City (specific time and location is to be determined).  After completing the hearings, the panel will issue a report to Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons by October 31st, 2007.

Senator Scott T. Rupp's Column for the Week of July 2, 2007

A Blue Ribbon Start

JEFFERSON CITY — Right now, this country faces an epidemic that strikes one out of every 150 children... more than AIDS, more than juvenile diabetes, and more than cancer... combined.  This epidemic is called autism, and one of the worst things about it is, we don’t know enough about it to even get a good handle on how to help those affected... the children and adults with autism, or their parents.  But last week, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism, which I chair, met for the first time at the State Capitol to try to get its arms around the problem and what we can do to help. 

This diverse group of 16 lawmakers, parents, physicians, and government officials spent the first meeting defining what the group will be exploring in the meetings in the weeks to come.  First and foremost, we’re trying to determine the state of autism in Missouri.  As I had the members introduce themselves in that first meeting, I also asked them to identify their goals for what they would like the meetings to accomplish.  Answers ranged from identifying gaps in government services to finding ways to help autistic adults secure private employment.   

Next up, parents and medical professionals testified before our group so we could better understand the impact autism has on the family members.  They told us of the need for comprehensive diagnoses and treatments no matter if the person affected is in urban or rural areas of the state.  We heard heartbreaking and heartwarming tales of family members in the depths of disparity not being able to help their child who seemed trapped behind some kind of facade, to warm thoughts of the special something these children with autism brought to each and every family.

In the coming weeks and months, as my 16-member troupe crisscrosses the state, we’ll hear more testimony – some of it from professionals in the field; some of it from more parents who just want to understand and help their children grow up as normally as possible.  We’ll be stopping in Cape Girardeau on July 20th, in Springfield on August 10th, August 31st in St. Louis, and a date in September or October in Kansas City.  Exact times and locations are to be determined, so check back with my office at (866) 271-2844 to schedule a time to testify if you have anything you think we need to hear.  When we’re all done, the panel will put together a report and turn it in to Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons so the full Senate can look at our findings and determine the steps we need to take as a state to best address the problem of autism in Missouri. 

During our first meeting, one parent urged the panel members to make sure they do more than produce a report that will just collect dust somewhere on a shelf.  I promise you this Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism will do more than just that, and hopefully, find a solution to one of the biggest crises facing our state today.

If you have comments or questions about this week’s column or any other matter involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach my office by phone at (866) 271-2844.

Missouri Senate, Senator Rupp's Official Column posted on July 2, 2007

Blue Ribbon Panel to Hold Second Hearing Friday

Missouri Blue Ribbon Panel for Autism to hold second of statewide hearings on Friday, July 20, 2007, at Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau – The second hearing of the Missouri Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism will be held from 10:00am until 4:00 pm on July 20, 2007 on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The hearing will be located in Glenn Auditorium in Robert A Dempster Hall. The Blue Ribbon Panel is scheduling hearings around the state, to hear public testimony on autism–related issues and to hear testimony from the various autism-related fields of expertise.

The locations will include Cape Girardeau, Springfield, St. Louis, and Kansas City.  All proceedings are open to the public, with an open forum scheduled from 11:00am to 1:00pm

The panel’s charge is to determine the “State of Autism” in Missouri including services, teaching, training, and research and to make recommendations for improving the quality of life across the lifespan of individuals with autism and their families.

Interested parties wishing to schedule a time to participate in public testimony may call Senator Rupp’s office in Jefferson City at  573-751-1282 or submit written testimony by email to:  mdestefano@senate.mo.gov  or by mail to Senator Scott T. Rupp,  Attn. Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism, State Capitol Building, Room 426, Jefferson City, MO  65101, FAX:  573-526-4766.

Missouri Autism Update

Missouri Autism Update
Provided by the Missouri Autism Coalition

Missouri Blue Ribbon Panel for Autism to hold first of statewide hearings on June 29, 2007 at Missouri State Capitol

Jefferson City – The first hearing of the Missouri Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism will be held from 10:00am until 4:00 pm on June 29, 2007 in the Missouri State Capitol Senate Lounge.

The panel is scheduling hearings around the state, to hear public testimony on autism –related issues and to hear testimony from the various autism-related fields of expertise.  All proceedings are open to the public, with an open forum scheduled to hear testimony from any interested parties.  Senator Michael R. Gibbons officially announced the Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism on April 26, 2007. 

Senator Scott T. Rupp of Wentzville will serve as the panel chairperson, along with Ron Ashworth of St. Louis as Vice-chairman.   The panel’s charge is to determine the “State of Autism” in Missouri including services, teaching, training, and research and to make recommendations for improving the quality of life across the lifespan of individuals with autism and their families.

Interested parties wishing to schedule a time to participate in public testimony may call Senator Rupp’s office in Jefferson City at  573-751-1282 or submit written testimony by email to:  mdestefano@senate.mo.gov  or by mail to:

Senator Scott T. Rupp
Attn. Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism
State Capitol Building - Room 426
Jefferson City, MO  65101

FAX:  573-526-4766
___________________________

Panel Nominees by Region include:
Senator Scott Rupp, (R-Wentzville) Chairman
Senator Jolie Justus, (D-Kansas City)

St. Louis Region:
Ron Ashworth, Vice Chairman
Julie Roscoe
Randy Sanders
Bill Bolster

Kansas City Region:
Tom Davis
Robin Russell

Mid-Missouri:
Dr. Steve Kanne
Dr. Laurie Fowler

Southeast Missouri:
Mamie Benson

Southwest Missouri:
Shawn Williams
Nikki Straw

Northeast Missouri:
Dr. Cindy Dowis

Missouri-at-Large:
Heidi Atkins Lieberman, DESE
Julia Kauffman, MRDD