Apr 6, 2022
HOUGHTON — With National Autism Awareness Month starting on Friday, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) on Monday announced a $1.5 million, three-year education and engagement campaign. The goal is to heighten statewide health and wellness opportunities for individuals in Michigan’s autism community. as part of a new, 10-year strategic vision.
AAoM is focusing on three strategic areas: Reducing the age of diagnosis; Inclusive, equitable and high-quality education; and increasing employment and post-secondary educational opportunities.
A March 4 release from AAoM stated that following two years of pandemic lockdowns, school and business closures, and disruptors in almost every aspect of life, the effects on individuals in Michigan’s autism community have been particularly challenging. Following the release and accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine, AAoM joined several statewide partners in advocating for COVID-19 vaccination in the autism community.
“At the onset of the pandemic,” said Colleen Allen, Ph.D., AAoM president and CEO, “we knew that we could not continue to advance our mission of supporting individuals in the autism community without putting their health, first and foremost. That meant we needed to join in statewide advocacy efforts with our ‘alliance’ partners to bring vaccine education, resources, and equitable access to our community. Our Michigan Vaccination Partners (MVP) group includes: Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI), Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) and Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI). Our recommendations are based on the most up-to-date, scientific information supported by sound clinical research.”
Allen explained that those who are on the autism spectrum are at a higher risk of illness, complications from illness, hospitalization from those illnesses and death due to more frequent exposure to viruses and cannot always employ safety measures.
With autism, communication, social, and/or sensory challenges are typical, Allen said. Meaning, there is less ability to understand and implement safety precautions in ways those without autism can.
“For some individuals, wearing a mask is impossible,” she said. “Others may have difficulty communicating symptoms of illness.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 of every 44 children is affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with boys being four to five times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls. There are an estimated 50,000 individuals living with ASD in Michigan, approximately 16,500 of them are school-age children.
This year, Autism Alliance of Michigan also is celebrating the passage of 2012’s landmark Autism Insurance Reform, an essential tool in securing health and wellness services for the autism community. AAoM worked with parents, legislators, policy experts and stakeholders across Michigan to get autism insurance reform legislation passed. The package mandated coverage for autism services such as speech and occupational therapy and applied behavioral analysis (ABA). Additional legislation was passed in 2013 that mandated coverage for autism services through the Michigan Medicaid program.
AAoM is leading collaborative efforts across the state, its website says, that will improve the quality of life for individuals with autism through education, access to comprehensive services, community awareness, inclusion efforts, and coordinated advocacy.
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