Government Watch

Become an Action Advocate

Advocate for the Autism Community

COSAC's Advocacy Services

COSAC believes that the people who can best advocate for autism issues are people with autism and their family members.  We strive to empower individuals with autism and their families to advocate by giving them the information and tools they need and by providing opportunities to interact with state and federal legislators and appointed government officials.

Parents as Advocates


COSAC is committed to helping parents become advocates for their children and the autism community as a whole. COSAC has organized a network, the Action Advocates for Autism, that is committed to helping state government find new and better ways of providing services to people with autism and their families. By sharing their personal experiences and concerns with legislators and other state officials, parents may be able to secure a better future for individuals with autism.  COSAC can communicate the needs of our community, but the testimony, letters, and calls of parents and people with autism are the best tools to convince legislators to take action.  

Members of the Action Advocate network receive:
  • A welcome packet with information about the legislative process, contact information for their elected representatives, and other advocacy-related materials.
  • Action Alerts throughout the year asking them to write or call their state officials about pending legislation or government initiatives.
  • Requests to provide public testimony to a legislative committee or public board.
  • Special invitations to COSAC's advocacy-related events.

Become an Advocate


COSAC employees advocate on behalf of families and individuals with autism by meeting with legislators and government officials, testifying or providing written comments on pending legislation or government initiatives, and participating on numerous committees and coalitions that address issues affecting the autism community. We regularly inform our membership of the outcomes of these activities through information in UpDate, COSAC's newsletter, and on this site.

For more information about COSAC's Government Affairs & Advocacy Services, including the Action Advocates for Autism program, please contact:

Leslie Long, Director of Public Policy & Systems Advocacy.
Email: leslie.long@njcosac.org (preferred contact method)
Tel: 609-883-8100  x43
Fax: 609-883-5509