Michigan Parent, Advocate & Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC) is a newly formed statewide group focused on student-centered advocacy. MiPAAC aims to educate families of children with special education needs on topics
Category: MiNavigator Newsletter
Art, Autism and Motherhood
Contributed by Autism Alliance of Michigan’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Gwen, Rylan’s mother, said that Rylan was adopted at 3 weeks old. He was a typical baby, but once
COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
Adapted from MDHHS-Spread Hope Not Covid FAQ In the five months since COVID-19 vaccines have become available, more than 4 million Michigan residents have been vaccinated — accounting for more
Father’s Day 2021
Parents, advocates say special ed services for pandemic recovery are hard to come by
Lily AltavenaDetroit Free Press The Michigan Department of Education started using a new phrase last summer to describe the help schools could give students with disabilities who fell behind in
Happy Mothers Day
MiABLE Puts Detroiter with Autism on Road to His Own Car, Independence
Contributed by MiABLE (Michigan Department of Treasury) Edward Lofton has big dreams — and they all include buying a Ford. “I have things now that I’m looking forward to and
Upbound At Work Employment Program
Upbound at Work, a fully integrated program within the Autism Alliance of Michigan, leads and supports disability-employment initiatives throughout the State of Michigan. Contact Upbound at Work to receive additional
2021 Autism Hero Walk
Register at aaomwalk.com
Together We Find A Way…
Thank You to our Donors and Foundations
A Message from our CEO for Autism Awareness Month
It’s April…Autism Awareness Month. This month has always been the busiest for AAoM, as we would normally be preparing for our annual gala. Like 2020, we decided to move the
Academia, Autism, & Advocacy: Recent Research on Accommodations
Contributed by Sofia Case, a graduate from the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University. Employees and applicants with hidden disabilities are often placed in the
Important Figures in the Disability Rights Movement
Contributed by AAoM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee To view our sources and learn more about these incredible pioneers of the Disability Rights Movement click here.
2021 Navigating Autism Today Virtual Conference
Autism Alliance of Michigan’s annual Navigating Autism Today Conference is going virtual on: Friday, March 19, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM Presented by Children’s Foundation, this conference brings
AAoM CEO to Join Governor’s Council on Vaccine Education
AAoM CEO, Dr. Colleen Allen, joins Gov. Whitmer’s commission on COVID-19 vaccine education, co-chaired by AAoM Board Member, former Lt. Governor Brian Calley. Gov. Whitmer says, “The best thing we
Direct Support Professionals Recognition – February 2021
Direct Support Professionals (DSP) assist those who are most vulnerable in our society. They add to the quality of their lives in both large and small ways; with acts of
Racial Disparity in Diagnosis
Contributed by AAoM’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by
A Brief History of Sensory-Friendly Programming at The Henry Ford
Contributed by Amy Louise Liedel, Senior Director of Guest Operations, The Henry Ford
Physical Activity and Nutrition – Resources for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Traditional behavioral interventions focus on core deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), despite the presence of health differences. In fact, children with ASD experience significant health differences beyond their
Community Inclusion featuring Barbara Santiago, Author, Advocate, and Parent of Special Needs Children
“Do you ever find yourself alone in a crowd of people?” Barbara Santiago writes in her book “My A.S.D: My Autism Sentiment Diary.” If your answer is yes, know that
Skill Building Series
This month we are excited to announce the launch of our Parent Skill Building Series. AAoM created simple, practical and easy to navigate webinars for parents and caregivers on a
Direct Support Professionals Initiative
Contributed by AAoM’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee During this year of uncertainty, the Autism Alliance of Michigan created the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI). Part of our mission
Preparing, Navigating, Transitioning…Oh My! How Visual Cues Can Help
Meegan Winters, MA Special Education, ASD, CI, ZA, CEO/Co-Founder Able Eyes (www.AbleEyes.org) Video Modeling/Virtual Tours If you are a parent, a caregiver, a teacher, or a relative of a person
Fall Insurance Special
Contributed by Chaunta Tsegaye, MSA – Insurance Specialist, AAoM What’s New in Insurance? On October 19, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the state is investing more than $1 million
Employment Resources
Job Accommodations Network (JAN): https://askjan.org/index.cfm The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. JAN’s trusted consultants
My Personal Journey: Alexandria S., Upbound at Work, Job Candidate
When I was little, I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up – an inventor. Aside from wishing to make this world a better place, the psychology behind
Parent Corner: Strategies for Supporting Your Adult-Child with Career Exploration & Placement
Kelly Blakeslee MA, CRC is a Vocational Rehabilitation Manager with Upbound at Work. She works to facilitate successful placement while building a positive neurodiverse work environment for both employee and
Introduction to Upbound at Work
October is Disability Awareness Month. Within this newsletter, AAoM would like to highlight the Upbound at Work employment program, showcase an Upbound job seeker, and provide additional information for parents
Happy July!
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Summer is finally here!
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Building A Gross Motor Plan
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Breaking Down Restraint and Seclusion
This month’s newsletter covers the newly enacted Seclusion and Restraint bills that were passed at the end of 2016. AAoM is so proud to have supported and advocated for this important legislation from the beginning. We hear from families and teachers on a regular basis who need more support and training for a child with challenging behaviors, who are subject to practices of seclusion and restraint that should be reserved for emergent situations.
Happy Holidays Autism Community!
As another year passes, we know that many parents are consumed with overwhelming concerns about their child’s well-being once they are gone. Financial planning becomes critical and information about MiAble and Special Needs Trusts can be empowering in this regard. We hope the information in this issue is valuable to you and the families you serve.