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November 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
This November, our focus will be on National Family Caregivers Month and staying healthy during the flu season; additionally, we’ll... The post November 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
October 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
This October, our focus will be on National Disability Employment Awareness Month, employment partners and training models, and Anti-Bullying Month;... The post October 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
Passing of the Autism Society’s Co-Founder and First Elected President Ruth Sullivan
Autism Society
The Autism Society of America celebrates the life of Dr. Ruth C. Sullivan, who passed away yesterday in Huntington, West... The post Passing of the Autism Society’s Co-Founder and First Elected President Ruth Sullivan appeared first on Autism Society.
September 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
This September, our focus will be on adulthood transitions, housing, and long-term care support, and National Suicide Prevention Month; additionally,... The post September 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
August 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
This August, our focus will be on back-to-school preparation, IEP planning, and school safety; additionally, we’ll continue emphasizing COVID-19 and... The post August 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
July 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
Our July Toolkit focuses on focuses on strengthening family bonds, inclusive summer activities, and back-to-school prep; additionally, we’ll continue emphasizing... The post July 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
June 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
Our June Toolkit focuses on Pride Month, Autistic Pride Day, providing support resources, statistics, and information for inclusive summer activities;... The post June 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
May 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
This May, our focus will be on Mental Health Awareness Month, providing support resources, statistics, and information for inclusive summer... The post May 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
March 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
This month our focus will be on Developmental Disabilities Month, and highlights women and autism for National Women’s History Month;... The post March 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.
Black History Month: February 2021 Toolkit
Autism Society
In honor of Black History Month, the top focus for our February Toolkit is on Autism and Race. There are significant... The post Black History Month: February 2021 Toolkit appeared first on Autism Society.

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Keep Our Students Safe

The Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA) has been introduced in both the House and Senate by Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA), Don Beyer (D-VA), and Donald McEachin (D-VA), and Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Patty Murray (D-WA). This bill would make it illegal for any school that receives federal funds to seclude a child or use dangerous restraint practices that restrict breathing, such as prone or supine restraint. KASSA would also prohibit schools from physically restraining children, except when imminent danger of serious injury to students or staff is likely. The bill would also ensure training is provided to all school personnel that is based on evidence-based proactive strategies. This harmful restraint and seclusion practices disproportionately affect students with autism and other disabilities, and/or students of color. According to the 2018 Civil Rights Data Collection, of the students restrained or secluded, 78 percent were students with disabilities. Although Black students comprise 15 percent of the student population, they represent 22 percent of students subjected to seclusion and 34 percent of students subjected to mechanical restraint.

Students with disabilities deserve the opportunity to pursue their education free from the fear of trauma and abuse. Please use this action alert to encourage your members of Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.
National Training for Police and Mental Health Crisis Support

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KA) reintroduced the bipartisan Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative. This legislation will help bring about racial justice and address the high incidence rate of police violence involving people with autism and other disabilities. The LEAD Initiative consists of two bills – the Safe Interactions Act (SIA) and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act. These two bills are also introduced in the House. Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced the HELP Act and Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the SIA Act.
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act

The bipartisan Transformation to Competitive Employment Act was reintroduced in the Senate on November 17 by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT). Earlier in the year, this bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA). See the current list of cosponsors in the House here. It is important that we get as many cosponsors as possible for this bipartisan effort to increase employment opportunities.

Specifically, the bill includes a six-year phase-out of subminimum wage certificates that are currently authorized under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Two grant programs are authorized to support states to help build capacity to provide competitive integrated employment. The bill also creates a technical assistance center to support all state entities to transform systems and to disseminate best practices and lessons learned on the transition from subminimum wage to competitive employment.

Please contact your Representatives and Senators to urge them to co-sponsor the bill. Thank you for supporting employment for people with autism.
URGE STATE LEGISLATORS: Urge them to Use Federal Funding for Autism Services

Congress has passed approximately $3 trillion in federal funding to assist states to deal with the COVID-19 public health crisis. Urge your Governors and State legislators to advocate for some of the money to be used to assist people with autism and other developmental disabilities.