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Dear ASGA Community,
I hope this finds you well. This has been a turbulent week with the threats that emerged from Washington. As we are all aware, the current administration tried to stop funding on a broad swath of federal programs, the loss of which would directly and indirectly threaten our Autism community. While this particular effort by the administration has been rescinded for the moment, there is every reason to believe more attempts to defund critical support programs will be made quickly.
At an organizational level, this and future efforts by the administration in Washington directly threaten the support ASGA receives from the Department of Justice through the Kevin and Avonte grant. This funding is the foundation for ASGA's Safety on the Spectrum training initiative which educates local police, fire, EMT and other first responders on how best to support the Autism community in crisis situations. The Department of Justice, in awarding ASGA this grant, looks to our organization "to reduce the number of deaths and injuries of individuals with developmental disabilities, such as Autism, who, due to their condition, wander from safe environments".
On a broader level, these efforts threaten the foundations of every system of support currently in place to help our community. ASGA is imploring you to join us in advocating for a permanent halt to these threats. The most effective pathway is advocating with our federal and state elected officials. We must do everything we can to compel them to exercise their legal and moral mandates to represent our values. This nonpartisan advocacy is also needed to preserve other programs and nonprofits under threat that support additional critical areas of need for our community, including special education.
The links below will offer you access to directly communicate our message to them:
And the message to send them is clear and simple:
You must stop these dangerous, unnecessary and unacceptable threats to the Autism community. Now.
The threat is real. It will not stop without our stand against it. Please add your voice to our efforts. Today.
Reach out if ASGA can assist you in making your voice heard.
Thank you.
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