The Autism Votes Chapter Advocacy Network is a group of elite volunteers who are dedicated to expanding involvement in autism advocacy. The Chapter Advocacy Chairs (CACs) direct and activate their local community to advocate for state and federal Autism Speaks initiatives. CACs are also responsible for running the Autism Votes walk booths, where advocacy information is shared with the walk community and signatures are collected for petitions that are then hand-delivered to Capitol Hill.

Description:
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affected families.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism Spectrum Disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown. To learn more about autism, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

History:
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Vice Chairman and Executive Officer, General Electric, and Chairman, NBC Universal. Autism Speaks has merged with both the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now (CAN), bringing together the nation's three leading autism advocacy organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

Contact person: Kalma Wong, Hawaii Chapter Advocacy Chair, (phone), (email)

Address:

46-220 Alaloa Place Kaneohe, 96744 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.autismvotes.org