Executive Director Letter
Dear Friends,
Spring means growth. I try to avoid trite newsletter sayings about "here we are and time is flying and it's spring" but today that's what's on my mind. Here's the list of what we have "going on." Lots of plates are spinning, balls juggled, connections being made, they are:
1.) The Pittsburgh Police Bureau warmly welcomed a team of disability advocates recently. We are forming a coalition of people with invisible disabilities to meet as many times as needed for formal training, informal get togethers, large groups and one-on-one meetings with officers yearning to do their best job with our people. I proposed this as a two way street. We need to prepare our students with direct skills teaching about how to respond to a police officer in uniform. Officers can only develop autism senses through their own direct instruction and cultural immersion, so we will create many kinds of opportunities for this. I hope for a fantastic, multi-leveled pilot program others may then copy, and very grateful for the FISA foundation orchestrating the connection.
2.) We are working with a professional policy person, in concert with other autism organizations, to look at the proposed Adult autism waiver application, analyze the details of how it works from start to finish, and make recommendations to the state. We will look to you for legislative visits with your family members to familiarize them with your day to day life and future (or current) adult needs. The Bureau of Autism cannot be faulted for inadequate waiver "slots" without sufficient funding from Harrisburg. We will help you find and talk with your legislators in the near future.
3.) Our Emerging Professionals Group (people wanting to give back, share talents, help us friend-and-FUNdraise), like Amy Beck and Nathan Culp is shaping up! A few of us met for a planning meeting regarding networking and fundraising events. We cannot thank them enough as we've been fielding a record number of in-depth calls since December, managed largely by Marie Mambuca. Contact me to join this group!
4.) Thanks to our walkers and runners! We invite more to join the Highmark Walk Team, either to join us walk day or virtually fundraise, or sponsor a Marathon runner. Our teammates are turning out in record numbers! Huge thanks to a gigantic new team from Pediatric Alliance and to Jennifer Salamon who is herding all these "cats" to race and walk day!
5.) We are working with the local chapter of the Autism Self Advocacy Network. From their website, they "seek to ensure the meaningful involvement of Autistic individuals in making policy at all levels, to promote a culture of inclusion and respect for all...and to improve funding for community services and supports along with research into how they can best be provided." As we work with systems like law enforcement and the Department of Human Services, we plan to do so in concert with ASAN representatives, as their voices and written communications are helpful in these conversations.
Please read the following pages to see what else has been going on. We're just coming off a great conference about how to respectfully and meaningfully help school-aged children engage in the world. Hats off to Jennifer Fulton for producing a highly-detailed learning experience/reunion for 170+ people in April. She's amazing, and so are you, for helping us all make better autism connections!
Have a growth-filled spring and please contact me at [email protected] to get more involved with us!