This week we attended the Ceremonial Signing of HB88 and SB57. The event was emotional and extremely fulfilling. After years of effort, insurance coverage for assessment, and treatment of autism will be provided for children up to 10 years of age in the state of Utah. The coverage includes ABA, DIR/Floortime, (A HUGE GAIN FOR FAMILY CHOICE) Speech, OT, PT, and other medically necessary interventions. It is a major victory, albeit an incomplete one. In the coming years, the community will continue to fight for an expansion of SB57, to include older children and to require self-insured businesses and Universities (USU, U of U, BYU, UVU, etc) to provide coverage.
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- Governor Herbert Signs HB88 and SB57
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- Past and present Utah Autism Coalition leaders, Leeann Whiffen and Christine Passey
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- Families waiting for the Governor Herbert’s arrival in the Gold Room
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- Cheryl Smtih, Autism Council of Utah
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- Senator Shiozawa greets Jeremy and Andrea Griggs
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- Rep. Menlove and Sen. Shiozawa
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- Members of the autism community gather to witness signing
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- Governor Herbert makes remarks
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- Senator Shiozawa graciously acknowledges community
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- Rep. Menlove described her personal passion for the passage of both bills.
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- Gov. Herbert signs SB57
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- Close up of signing SB57
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- Gov. Herbert signing HB88 surrounded by Utah families.
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- Group picture on Capitol stairs