In 2008 a small group of parents networked with each other and met in the Roanoke area at a private home. They agreed to form the Virginia Autism Project. In 2009 of the non-profit Virginia Autism Project (VAP), along with Autism Speaks, led a multi-year, grassroots, statewide coalition of families to push for Autism Insurance Reform in Virginia. This effort culminated in the 2011 signing of a bill by the then Governor of Virginia, Robert McDonnell, to mandate insurance coverage for the therapies associated with a diagnosis of autism up to 6 years of age. Later, the group worked to amend the law to mandate insurance coverage through age 10. Ultimately the autism community worked together to lift the age cap entirely off of the Virginia law mandating insurance coverage for a diagnosis of autism.
Over the years, VAP has led efforts to pass legislation or, teamed with other strong autism advocacy groups, on bills that improve the lives of autistics and their families in Virginia.
These include:
On April 26, 2015 a vital "tour de force" of our community and founding member of the Virginia Autism Project left us. It's hard to put into words what John Maloney meant to those of us that worked with him but we know how he felt about individuals with autism, such as his own son, Jack. John was nothing less than a trailblazer in our community and we have felt the sting of his absence. We carry on and hold his memory dearly in our hearts.
LAG
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