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The Autism Gap: The fight for insurance

The Autism Gap: The fight for insurance

ATLANTA -- Eight year old Ava Bullard is playing with her sisters, riding their bikes on their long country driveway. It is a simple act that defies those who said she would never talk, those who said she wouldn't function in the real world.

Ava was not a typical baby, or toddler.

Her mother Anna says, "You couldn't interact with her."

MORE | Complete coverage of The Autism Gap

Ava did not play with toys. Did not speak. Could not dress herself. Did not interact with her parents or sisters. Slept two hours a night. She was in her own world.

Anna says, "It's like she looked straight through me. She would just...it's like you weren't there, if you were in the room with her."

Anna Bullard took Ava from doctor to doctor for months. One doctor told the family Ava was 'just weird.'

Fulton Health and Human Services opens One-of-a-Kind Facility

Fulton Health and Human Services opens One-of-a-Kind Facility

ATLANTA -- The newly renovated Oak Hill Child, Adolescent and Family Center, located at 2805 Metropolitan Parkway in Atlanta, officially re-opens Thursday, February 7 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m. The center sits on a 22-acre campus and will provide coordinated care to children and their families from all over Fulton County.

Fulton County schools set hardship transfer application deadline

Fulton County schools set hardship transfer application deadline

FULTON COUNTY -- For parents planning to apply for a 2013-14 hardship transfer, or to renew current hardship to another elementary, middle or high school in Fulton County, applications will be available January 4, with the deadline for submitting them on February 15, by 4:30 p.m. 

Forms are available online, on the Fulton County School's "Parents" page. Here, parents can print off the form and sign it, then deliver it to the Fulton County Schools' Student Assignment Office, c/o Meadows Operations Center at 5270 Northfield Blvd. College Park, GA 30349. The form can be faxed to the same address at (404) 763-5547.

Flu vaccine available at Fulton County health centers

Flu vaccine available at Fulton County health centers

ATLANTA -- Flu season is here. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), now is the time to make sure you're protected. The agency says flu season is ramping up early this year - for the first time in almost a decade and Fulton County Health Services encourages residents (ages 6 months and older) to protect themselves and their families by getting vaccinated. Vaccines are available at six health centers from 8:00am – 4:00pm through the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness.

Residents can get the flu vaccine or the nasal mist (age 2 to 49 years) for $25.  Visa and Master Card (credit and debit), Medicaid, Cigna, United Health care and cash are accepted forms of payment.

Ga. Connections Academy holding more information sessions

Ga. Connections Academy holding more information sessions

ATLANTA -- Georgia Connections Academy, the state's first public virtual charter school, has planned more information sessions across the state.

The tuition-free school, which recently earned accolades from the parents of current students, is expanding from K-8 to K-12 for the 2012-13 school year.

"Good things are happening in public education, and we're proud to be a leader in the future of great schooling in our state," GACA principal Heather Robinson said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming more elementary, middle and now high schoolers next year."

Enroll your child in Georgia Connections Academy

Information sessions in metro Atlanta include:

As Students End School Year, Boys & Girls Clubs Offers Way to Fight “Summer Brain Drain"

ATLANTA -- This month, millions of kids begin their summer breaks, looking forward to vacations, pool time and carefree days. But studies and experience show a lack of mental stimulation causes them to unlearn much of what they were taught over the school year.  Boys & Girls Clubs across the country offer young people a safe, exciting place to spend their summer months, with staff and resources to fight the effects of this “Summer Brain Drain.”

The reality for today’s kids is that many will find themselves with few structured activities, caregivers who are working all day, and too much unsupervised television, video game and computer time.

President Touts Concerns Over Summer Learning

Also known as “summer learning loss” or the “summer slide,” this issue is a growing problem for American children.  In 2010, President Obama noted, “Students are losing a lot of what they learn during the school year during the summer.”

Atlanta's ‘BEST WORLD MUSIC ACT’ Salutes Men on Father's Day

Atlanta's ‘BEST WORLD MUSIC ACT’ Salutes Men on Father's Day

ATLANTA -- You have seen them on NBC television network reality series “America’s Got Talent” and if you are a reality-show junkie, you remember them sharing  their high-energy dance experience with singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss and Attorney Phaedra Parks in connection with their travels to South Africa on BRAVO cable network top-rated reality series “Real Housewives of Atlanta”.

Now, the 19-year Atlanta-based ensemble GIWAYEN MATA, is going  to bring their ‘contagious’ high energy drum and dance to the Southwest Arts Center for Father's Day. Between educating audiences about African traditions and breaking barriers as an all-sistah ensemble in a male dominated percussion industry, its no wonder Creative Loafing Magazine named them "Best Local World Music Act" three times!