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Putting My Lived Experience to Good Use
As an autism self-advocate, I wear many hats: writer, public speaker, advisor, educator. One of my roles is LEND Program Faculty at Boston Children’s Hospital and UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion. The LEND Program (an acronym for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and...
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New Book Offers Firsthand View of the State of Public Policy for the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in New York
Leaders in intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD) are in the crosswinds of a crisis because of the lack of clarity and predictability about New York State’s timing and direction of managed care. The result of trying to plan for vulnerable persons served is obvious and unacceptable: The...
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An Interview with the New York State OASAS, OMH, and OPWDD Commissioners to Address Critical Healthcare Issues
In a rare opportunity, Mental Health News Education, publisher of Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News, has brought together the Commissioners of the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), The NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and The NYS Office for People with...
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Ensuring Equal Access to Employment Opportunities for Adults with Autism Requires Bold Legislative Initiative
In the wake of an unprecedented year, many of us are all keenly aware of the difficulties that can come with finding and keeping a steady, good-paying job. However, for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disability, this already-difficult endeavor can be...
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The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adds 5th Adult Autism Endowment Fund Assuring a Focus on Adult Autism Public Policy for Generations to Come
The collaborative vision of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJFF), the nation’s first not-for-profit organization to exclusively focus on adult autism, has been further enhanced by the establishment of a new endowment fund at Arizona State University, adding to DJFF’s existing endowed fund...
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Examining the Impact of H.R. 3054: The Global Autism Assistance Act of 2013
The Global Autism Assistance Act of 2013, known as H.R. 3054, is designed to provide training and education to teachers in developing countries with intervention and prevention treatment plans for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (GovTrack, 2014). It was introduced by Republican...
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ABA / Autism Insurance Coverage: Mandates and Self-Insured Companies
Let me start out by saying that I am trained as a Behavior Analyst. Following my coursework and practicum experience, I had a solid foundation to begin my career working with individuals with various diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). My training however was focused, and...
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Public Funding of Private Pre-School is a Mandated Early Intervention Service Required Under IDEA
Birth to age five, the time of early intervention services, is a critical time full of exploration, socialization and skill acquisition. For most children of this age in today’s society, the bulk of their experiences take place in day care or pre-school settings. For children identified with...
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An Autism Spectrum News Interview with New York State OPWDD Commissioner Courtney Burke
It has been six months since Courtney Burke was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Among the many things she has accomplished since that time, Ms. Burke has completed a statewide Listening Tour focused on issues concerning...
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The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008 US Department of Justice Issues Long-Awaited Major Revisions
On March 15, 2011 revised federal regulations to implement the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) became effective. This change occurred because on September 25, 2008, former President George W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008, a federal statute with an effective...
