ASN Fall 2013 Issue

• October 1st, 2013
• advocacy, Autism Services, disability support, family caregivers, financial planning, healthcare costs, public benefits, social services
• 3231    0

"Managing the Financial Needs of Autism"   Articles in This...

The Massachusetts Autism Commission’s Report: Recommendations to Create a Comprehensive Autism Service System

• By: Faith Behum, MPP Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
• October 1st, 2013
• adult services, advocacy, autism policy, data systems, disability eligibility, legislative recommendations, Massachusetts, public education, service coordination, state services
• 1891    0

The bill creating the Massachusetts Autism Commission was signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick in April 2010. Membership was required by law to consist of four members of the Massachusetts state legislature, fourteen representatives from state agencies, and fourteen citizen members including...

The Critical Importance of Advocacy and Government Relations

• By: M. Christopher Tabakin, MS Melmark
• January 1st, 2013
• advocacy, autism support, civic engagement, disability services, elected officials, government, government relations, intellectual disability, lobbying, public policy
• 2094    0

The term “advocacy” often elicits many different thoughts. The actual word “advocacy” is defined as “the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal.” We advocate all the time, and for many different things. Most are very worthwhile causes, and others are perhaps more trivial (have...

How to Effectively Advocate for Your Child’s Transition with Your School District

• By: Maria C. McGinley, MST, JD Mayerson & Associates
• April 1st, 2012
• advocacy, children, IEP meeting, planning, post-secondary education, post-secondary transition, services, transition
• 2376    0

Parents of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum are often concerned about their child’s transition from the structured environment of a school-based program to the post-secondary world and all of the hurdles that transition entails. A student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is the...

The Unique Legal Issues That Affect Children and Adults with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome

• By: Sheryl R. Frishman, Esq Amy C. O’Hara, Esq Littman Krooks, LLP
• October 1st, 2011
• adults, advocacy, Asperger’s, fall 2011 issue, guardianship, high functioning autism, IEP, law, legal, Medicaid, Medicare, planning, SSDI, SSI
• 19310    4

Over the last several years in our Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Advocacy practices, we have seen a significant increase in clients having a family member with high functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. Although not exhaustive, this article is intended to provide an overview of...

How to Combine Cooperation and Advocacy at Your IEP Meeting

• By: Maria C. McGinley, MST, JD Mayerson & Associates
• April 1st, 2011
• advocacy, cooperation, educational supports, IEP meeting, parenting, school placement
• 2233    0

The IEP season is now in “full swing” and parents often wonder how they should conduct themselves at their child’s IEP meeting. It truly is a balancing act to be “cooperative” with your child’s IEP team while also advocating for the educational supports that are appropriate for your...

Ira and David Minot – The Father and Son Team Behind Mental Health News and Autism Spectrum News

• By: Staff Writer Autism Spectrum News
• January 1st, 2011
• advocacy, father, son
• 2872    0

Ira and David Minot, Founders and Publishers of Mental Health News (now Behavioral Health News) and Autism Spectrum News, were recently featured in the “Who’s Who” section of AHA’s Fall 2010 magazine, On the Spectrum. “We were honored to be highlighted by AHA because of our shared...