Today is Election Day and if you don't have enough reasons to go out and vote, please keep reading. With the Affordable Care Act transition and the critical support from the Washington State Legislature, 2015 will be our most significant year yet.

Many of us may not realize the real and tangible benefits that are a direct result of our grassroots advocacy:

4,000: the number of families in Washington caring for a child with a disability who will now receive much-needed respite care thanks to passage of the Vulnerable Individuals Priority Act (VIP Act).

1,000: the number of adult individuals with disabilities who will now receive employment or employment services, again thanks to the VIP Act.

30,000: the number of paid autism screenings now provided for children 36 months of age or younger who are suspected of having autism. For the first time ever, the Health Care Authority will add reimbursement for timely access to a formal diagnostic evaluation and referral for evidence-based treatment.

500,000: the number of students para-educators teach in schools across this state, over half of which are students with disabilities. Thanks to Senator Andy Hill and his Para-educator Development Bill, our state will develop a career path and better training for dedicated para-educators.

FIRST: As a state, we are FIRST in the nation to develop a career path for para-educators. Para-educators work on the front lines every day with many of our highest needs students.

The following are our legislative priorities for 2015:

• Banning harmful restraints and seclusion of students with disabilities in public schools
• Creating a system of transparency through the Office of Insurance Commissioner surrounding external and independent review of insurance denials
• Licensure for professional behavior analysts
• Legislative review of the implementation of the ABA (applied behavior analysis) settlement for low income children
• BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) loan repayment program

If these are issues that are important to your family, please consider joining WAAA as an autism ambassador or a district captain. No experience is necessary; we will provide you with all the tools and training.

For more information contact info@WashingtonAutismAdvocacy.org.