Spectrum Super Star April 2015

Paul is such an example of determination and self-advocacy making a difference !

Paul says: I support Ava’s Law because I believe it will be the foundation of treating Autism in Georgia. To me it is an outrage that a person with autism can’t be treated because the big insurance companies refuse to pay for it.  I was diagnosed at age eight.   When I heard about Ava’s Law it was in 2013 when I saw Ava’s mother, Anna Bullard, on Channel 11 News discussing it. The Channel 11 News said to contact your state representative, which I did. I emailed  both my state house representative and my state senator. I only heard back from my house representative saying that he could not support the bill at that time. Toward the end of the 2013 Session, Ava’s Law went  to a Mandate Committee, which said it could not support. OUTRAGEOUS!

Finally in November of 2013, I met Anna Bullard and told her I was ready to fight with her because I had Autism. Around that same time I reconnected with my Autism Resource Teacher, Ms. Deborah Khuen-Browning, who told me about the adult support group at Spectrum. I was happy to join the group, not realizing it was the same Autism Support Group that I had been a part of when Spectrum was just starting back in 1998. I made friends there who I could connect with. In February 2014, I was ready to go to the State Capitol and I came with two friends from Spectrum. Later in the 2014 session Ava’s Law was passed by the State Senate, but failed to come to a vote in the State House. This year in the 2015 session, I was prepared to get Ava’s Law passed.

On Autism Awareness Day at the Capitol I stood with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, a few key state senators including Senator Charlie Bethel,  Judith Ursitti from Autism Speaks, Anna Bullard and her daughter Ava.  A few days later the state senate passed the bill.  The bill was stalled in the house insurance committee.  Late last week a compromise  was made between Senator Bethel and House Member Richard Smith, chair of house insurance committee, adding Ava's law language to House bill 429 which passed the Senate on 3/31. We just need the governor to sign and  autism insurance coverage will now be a reality in GA! I have  learned a lot about myself and better ways to be a self-advocate.