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I have a deep love and passion for working with children & adolescents with Autism. Over the last 11 years, I have spent countless hours dedicating myself to several children and their families. After working in a variety of settings, I noticed a common trend between conventional therapeutic modalities that I found problematic. Most programs for children with autism only focused on the child with the diagnosis, ignoring an essential dynamic of the child’s life: their family. I wondered what life might look like for these families if services expanded beyond the child with Autism to include support for parents, siblings and others who played important roles in the child’s life. I made it my goal to create a program for children with Autism that would embrace the entire family system in the therapeutic process. Earlier this year, that goal came to fruition with the opening of S.M.I.L.E. Autism Services, LLC a small private practice, serving children with Autism near Denver & Boulder, CO.

However, the instant and incredibly high demand for services from S.M.I.L.E. made me realize that my small business could only help a tiny percentage of the families in Colorado who desperately need assistance. According to the Center for Disease Control, a new case of autism is diagnosed every 20 minutes. Currently 1 in 110 individuals are diagnosed and this number is continuing to rise. Colorado currently ranks 48th in the nation in funding and treatment for Autism and right now there are close 1000 children on various wavier waiting lists, hoping for services (Children’s HCBS Waiver Interim Committee Report to Legislative Council – November 2009).

Considering these facts has made me dream big. Clearly changes need to be made nationwide, but ESPECIALLY here in Colorado. I asked myself what I could do to provide services to a larger number of the children and families who cannot get help simply because there is not enough services available to meet the demand of the population.

I am happy to say I have an opportunity for us to work together to radically change the landscape of Autism treatment in Colorado!

Recently, I applied for a $250,000 grant through Pepsi’s Refresh Everything Program to open a Cutting-Edge, Comprehensive Family-Based Autism Therapy Clinic and it is now one of the finalists being considered. Beginning April 1 and ending April 30, the general public will be able to vote for the proposal they like the best, with a winner to be announced May 1, 2010. It is my hope that we will not only impact the state of Colorado, but that the idea of a family systems approach to Autism here will be the starting point to changing Autism services throughout the country!

All you have to do is log on and vote! You can vote once EVERY DAY!

Today I am asking you to join with me in dramatically changing the lives of many children and families. Every Day, Every Person & Every Vote Counts!!

1.Please go to: www.refresheverything.com

2.Click on: Join Refresh Everything

3. Enter in your information- this will only take a minute

4.VOTE!!! You can go directly to my page and idea at:

www.refresheverything.com/smileautismservices

5. Pass on my idea and information to your friends & family

6. VOTE EVERY DAY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL!!!!

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!

Thank you so much for your help, care and support.

Sincerely,

Andrea Fasula, MA
Certified Autism Specialist

www.smileautismservices.com

~Supporting, Mentoring, Including, Loving & Educating Children with Autism & Their Families~