''Days of Our Lives" Autism Storyline"

"Days of Our Lives" and Autism Speaks Team Up for Autism Storyline
Award-winning daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" is launching a new storyline focusing on how the whole family is affected when a child is diagnosed with autism. The story will be based on the experiences of the series' head writer, Dena Higley, who has raised a child with autism. In the story, Dr. Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) and Commissioner Abe Carver (James Reynolds) are told their 3-year-old son, Theo, has autism. In developing the story, “Days of our Lives” has joined with Autism Speaks to help convey a message of hope and impart accurate and useful information

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Busiest Spring Walk Weekend Raises Nearly $3.5 Million
Seven Walk Now for Autism events took place this past weekend from coast-to-coast and in Canada, where more than 42,500 participants raised nearly $3.5 million. Read more and view photos and video from the Bay Area, Greater Hartford, Iowa, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pittsburgh, and Westchester/Fairfield Walks.

Louisiana Legislature Passes Autism Insurance

In a key victory for children with autism, on June 11, the Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a measure that would require insurance companies to cover evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. House Bill 958, the autism insurance reform bill, would cover Applied Behavior Analysis and other treatment costs of up to $36,000 per year with a lifetime cap of $144,000 for children under 17 with autism. The bill now goes to Governor Bobby Jindal for his signature. To learn more about House Bill 958 and to find out what you can do to help the bill become law, click here. To stay informed about autism insurance reform legislation in your home state, sign up for action alerts here.

Autism Speaks Announces Request for Applications Focused on International Autism Epidemiology
Autism Speaks recently announced a new funding mechanism for international records-based epidemiology research and is currently requesting applications. The purpose of this request for applications (RFA) is to lay the groundwork for autism prevalence studies of outside of the U.S., using methodology similar to that used by the CDC from which the current U.S. prevalence estimate of 1 in 150 children was ascertained. International epidemiology studies such as these can help generate clues about the potential causes, both genetic and environmental, that occur with different frequency in different populations around the world. Read more.

International Collaboration to Raise Awareness in Latin America and Caribbean Countries


J. Sisters Hosts "Day of Beauty" Benefit


Comedy Series "Comics Unleashed" to Fight Autism



Jewelry Industry Pledges $100,000 to Autism Speaks

In Their Own Words: A Father's Day Tribute


e-Speaks to Keep Bi-weekly Schedule Until September 5

During the summer, e-Speaks will be sent bi-weekly. The next edition of e-Speaks will be on June 27. e-Speaks will return to its regular schedule on Friday, September 5, 2008. Have a safe and enjoyable summer.