First Lady Michelle Obama Joined Parents at Camp Pendleton to Discuss Healthcare Services for Military Children With

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, Jun 15 (MARKET WIRE) --
In response to First Lady Michelle Obama's challenge to America stating
on Sunday "One percent of America may be fighting our wars but 100
percent of America needs to be supporting parents in that fight," ACT
Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), a non-profit organization
whose mission is to provide grant money for families that cannot afford
or access the treatments their autistic children need, is set to launch
the first ever national campaign to support military families with
children with autism, announced ACT Today!'s executive director, Nancy
Alspaugh-Jackson.

The statistics are staggering. 1 in 88 military children have autism and
less than 10 percent are receiving recommended care and treatments. This
is why Mrs. Obama met with military families with special needs to
discuss policy reform. Prior to her speech to Marines at Camp Pendleton,
Mrs. Obama listened to parents who highlighted the challenges military
families face in accessing appropriate care and treatment services
through the military healthcare system, TRICARE, and existing community
programs.

"My goal is to help the rest of our country better understand and
appreciate the incredible service of you and your families, and to make
sure your voices are heard back in Washington and that your needs are
met," said Mrs. Obama. "I am launching a national challenge to Americans
to find ways to rally support of the military family."

The goal of the campaign, called ACT Today! for Military Families
(www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org), is to raise $1 million to fund
treatment and care until policy change can be addressed.

According to Alspaugh-Jackson, mother of an 8-year-old son with autism,
"Until Washington can come up with answers, ACT Today! intends to battle
for these families who are sacrificing their lives for us by helping
their most precious resource, their children with autism, get the care
and treatment they need. This is a case where every individual can make a
difference."

The ACT Today! for Military Families campaign director Karen Driscoll,
military wife and mother of a child with autism, was part of the special
"closed door" meeting with the First Lady.

"As a Marine Corps wife and mother of a young son with autism, I have
been working with military families, senior military leadership, and
lawmakers on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the unique needs of the
military child with autism and improve access to treatment services and
family support programs," she said. "I'm very grateful for the First
Lady's efforts to champion the needs of the military child and family."

Details of the national campaign will be released this summer.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1284193

Media Contact
Vanessa Showalter
V/S Communications
949-748-0542
vshowalter@cox.net

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-