Autism Speaks and the Debate
Autism Speaks is preparing for Tuesday's Presidential debate at Hofstra University by organizing advocates to appear at Good Morning America, the Today show and a pre-debate event, and encouraging advocates outside the New York area to make the "1 in 88 Can't Wait" message seen and heard.
Advocates will be outside the Good Morning America and Today show broadcasts holding "1 in 88 Can't Wait" signs. If you do not live in the New York area, here is what you can do to help:
1.) Take a picture of you, your family or your child holding a poster that says something like, "My 1 in 88 can't wait!", "I'm 1 in 88 with autism & can't wait!", "Put autism in the debates", "We love our 1 in 88 and can't wait for you to put autism in the debates."
Decorate the poster, be creative, have fun. Share your picture with us on your Facebook Page to show your friends what you are doing!
2) Tweet the picture to ABC's Good Morning America for its Monday broadcast and NBC's Today show Tuesday. We will have community members holding signs outside of GMA on Monday (Oct. 15) & outside Today on Tuesday (Oct. 16). CBS This Morning doesn't have an outdoor venue, but we can still send them pictures! Participate from home by sending both the candidates & news shows your pictures.
First, here are suggested Tweets:
"Hey @BarackObama @MittRomney @GMA Our 1 in 88 can't wait. Put #autism in the #debates! #AutismVotes2012"
"Hey @BarackObama @MittRomney @todayshow Our 1 in 88 can't wait. Put #autism in the #debates! #AutismVotes2012"
"Hey @BarackObama @MittRomney @cbsthismorning Our 1 in 88 can't wait. Put #autism in the #debates! #AutismVotes2012"
Then, attach your Twitpic and tweet!
NOTE: If you don't have a Twitter account, create one easily at www.twitter.com
3) Post on the candidates' Facebook pages. Continue to visit the Obama Campaign Facebook page here and the Romney Campaign Facebook page here throughout the weekend. You cannot post directly to their pages, so please post this wherever you can on their Facebook page, even under a seemingly unrelated topic. The goal is for each campaign to see thousands of posts from the autism community:
(President Obama/Governor Romney) - Our 1 in 88 can't wait for leadership and a plan surrounding all the issues the autism community faces today. Please discuss autism in the debate at Hofstra Univeristy & let us know what you will do to help people living with autism today.
Between 3 pm and 11 pm on Tuesday, the day of the debate, Hofstra will operate a Public Area at its Hempstead, Long Island campus where advocates can make their voices heard. Autism Speaks is registered and will be there to speak and build an audience.
