10. Autism Commission Priorities
1-Expand eligibility criteria for the
Department of Developmental Services
so that individuals with autism who
have IQs over 70 and have substantial
functional limitations have access to
services
2-Assure that those with autism and a
co-occurring mental health condition
have equal access to and appropriate
services from the Department of
Mental Health.
11. 3-Expand intensive services in the
home and community for individuals
with autism through the Children’s
Autism Medicaid Waiver, the Adult
Medicaid Waivers, and the
Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education/Department of
Developmental Services Residential
Placement Prevention Program.
12. 4-Expand insurance coverage for
autism treatments
5-Increase and fortify supports and
resources that make it possible to
maintain the family unit and assist
individuals with autism to live in the
community.
6-Determine the number of people
with autism in Massachusetts and
their support needs by
implementing a plan for consistent
statewide data collection.
13. 7-Improve access to autism
screening, diagnosis, and Autism
Specialty Services through Early
Intervention for children diagnosed
with autism and those considered at
high risk for autism.
8-Increase employment
opportunities for individuals with
autism by providing a range of job
training, job development, and
employment opportunities.
14. 9-Increase capacity to provide
educational supports and services
necessary to meet the needs of all
students with autism.
10-Increase availability of
augmentative and alternative
communication methods, devices
and services for individuals with
autism.
15. 11-Increase the range of housing
options for individuals with autism.
12-Improve the delivery of
healthcare services for individuals
with autism.
13-Assure that the Autism
Commission’s Recommendations are
implemented and outcomes are
monitored for effectiveness.
16. PRIORITY
RECOMMENDATION
BILL
SPONSO
R
Sen.
Flanagan
#1
A) DDS will no longer use an IQbased eligibility requirement for
adult services.
COMMITTE
E
BILL #
SB 908
#2
#4
C) Require Mass Health to take
action necessary to cover
medically necessary treatments for
individuals with autism.
JCF
JCF
Hearing
05/21/13
Rep.
Bradley
HB 78
Favorable to
Now HB3715
HCF
10/21/13
Sen.
Flanagan
A) Primary diagnosis of autism will
not be used as grounds to find an
adult ineligible for DMH services.
BILL TITLE
SB 909
Rep. Khan
HB 1794
Rep.
Gregoire
HB 1026
An act to permit the Department of
Developmental Services provide services
to adults with developmental disabilities.
An Act to ensure full and equal access to
JMH Hearing services from the Department of Mental
9/10/13
Health for individuals with Autism
Spectrum Disorder and related conditions
Working
who otherwise meet the eligibility criteria
group
for the Department of Mental Health
Services.
JHC
Hearing
6/24/13
An Act relative to MassHealth providing
Medically Necessary treatments for
members diagnosed with autism
17. PRIORITY
#4
RECOMMENDATION
BILL
SPONSOR
C) Require Mass Health to take
action necessary to cover medically Rep.
necessary treatments for individuals Bradley
with autism.
#6
B) EOHHS will establish and
manage an integrated confidential
data system among state agencies
and stakeholders.
#9
B) DESE will develop and
implement a state Autism
Discretionary Grant Program for
local school districts to increase
their capacity to educate students
with autism in a manner consistent
with their potential and in the least
restrictive environment.
#9
E) DESE will develop a competency
based Autism Endorsement for
licensed teachers so that teachers
can obtain competencies necessary
to educate students with autism in
a manner consistent with their
potential in the least restrictive
environment.
BIL
L#
HB
76
COMMITTE
E
JCF
Hearing
5/21/13
Reported
favorably
to HCF
12/5/13
JCF
Hearing
05/21/13
Rep.
Bradley
Rep.
Bradley
Rep.
Bradley
HB
77
HB
342
HB
344
Included in
House IT
Bond Bill
11/19/13
JED
Hearing
Scheduled
6/6/13
JED
Hearing
Scheduled
9/19/13
BILL TITLE
An act to provide equal access to medical
treatments essential for children with autism
An Act establishing an integrated confidential
data system among state agencies to track
diagnosis, treatment, services and outcome of
individuals with autism
An act to establish a discretionary grant
program for students with autism
An Act to increase capacity to address the
complex needs of students with autism
18. PRIORITY
RECOMMENDATION
#10
D) Revise the Massachusetts
education licensure regulations to
require that general education
teachers and specialists receive
sufficient coursework and practical
experience in methods of
augmentative and alternative
communication.
AND
E) Revise Massachusetts education
licensure regulations to require that
all teachers address use of assistive
technology and augmentative and
alternative communication.
#11
A) The State Legislature will amend
M.G.L. Chapter 40B (affordable
housing) to redefine housing for lowincome people with disabilities to
count as affordable housing, with
each bedroom in a multi-residential
house counting as one affordable
unit.
BILL
SPONSOR
BILL
#
COMMITTEE
JED
Hearing
9/19/13
Rep.
Bradley
HB
343
Rep. Lewis
HB
3364
BILL TITLE
An act to improve augmentative and
alternative communication opportunities
for children with disabilities.
JCH
Bill
redrafted
Hearing TBA
An Act to promote housing creation for
persons with disabilities
19. PRIORITY
RECOMMENDATION
#12
D) Increase the number of medical
providers who are knowledgeable in
autism.
#12
E) Promote additional specialized
training on autism through medical
continuing education programs for
primary care physicians, neurologists,
psychiatrists, dentists, emergency room
personnel and other medical specialists.
AND
F) Encourage hospitals to develop an
"autism team" who could be called upon
should a patient with autism enter the
emergency room, need tests or X-rays,
need to be admitted, etc.
BILL
SPONSOR
Rep.
Bradley
BILL
#
HB
1061
COMMITTEE/
HEARING
JHE
Hearing
6/19/13
BILL TITLE
An Act creating a scholarship fund to increase
the number of medical providers who are
knowledgeable in autism
JPH
Rep.
Bradley
HB
1900
Hearing
10/17/13
An Act to increase current medical providers'
knowledge about autism in order to improve the
treatment individuals with autism receive in
medical settings
JSA
#13
A) The Autism Commission will be a
permanent entity responsible for
overseeing the implementation of the
Commission’s recommendations.
Hearing
Rep.
Bradley
HB
3321
11/6/13
Favorable
vote to Rules
Committee
11/21/13
An Act permanently establishing a state autism
commission
20. What is Advocacy?
The act of clearly communicating an issue, or
cause to educate or persuade change.
Needs to be a year-round series of
communication to educate & inform our elected
officials.
Can be a simple statement of what you are
advocating for – based on unique personal
circumstances.
Your unique story is far more compelling than
a mass-produced talking point!
22. 10 Informal Rules of Lobbying
Consider yourself an information source
Tell the truth.
Know who else is on your side.
Know the opposition.
Make the legislator aware of your personal connection
Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know something.
Be specific about what you’re asking for.
Follow up.
Don’t ―burn any bridges‖
REMEMBER YOU ARE THE BOSS!
23. Tips for Calling Your Legislator
Try to speak directly
with your legislator,
or ask to speak with
a legislative aide.
24. What to say?
Identify yourself, where you’re
calling from, and in what
capacity
State what you’re calling
about.
State what you want
Tell them why you want it
Ask about his/her stand or
opinion on the issue.
Thank them for their time and
express your appreciation if
they are supporting your issue!
Try to keep the call short and
courteous!
25. Tips for Writing or Emailing Your
Legislator
Name, address, phone
number, email
Bill title, bill number, budget
line item number, where it is
in the process.
Reason for writing, clarify
what you want.
Where you stand on the issue
Offer to provide additional
info if necessary, thank them
for considering your views
A picture of your family.
26. Tips on Meeting With Your
Legislator
Why do it?
Where to meet?
Who should go?
What should you say?
What shouldn’t you say?
What legislator may
want to know.
What to bring.
27. Tips on Testifying on a Bill
What to know.
What to expect.
What to say.
28. Sample Testimony
Provide an opening statement
Introduce your bill.
Give a paragraph or two about your own
situation
Give some information about the bill you are
testifying on.
Give a conclusion.
30. Budget Line Items
Line Item
5920-3000
Name
Total
DDS Family
Support
$52,364,298
5920-5000
DDS Turning 22
$6,500,000
4120-3000
MRC Supp.
Employment
$2,175,164
31. Budget for FY’2015
DRAFT
Line Item
Name
Total
5920-3000
Family Support
$8,000,000
5920-3010
Autism
$3,000,000
5948-0012
7061-0012
DESE-DDS
$2,000,000
5920-2025
Employment
$20,100,000
5920-5000
Turning 22
$15,200,000
5920-2000
Community
Residential
$148,000,000
5911-2000
Transportation
$5,800,000
4120-3000
4120-2000
MRC Employment
MRC CIES
$1,000,000
$ 500,000
34. June and July
• Conference Committee of House and
Senate
• Governor’s Signature
• Address Vetoes as necessary
35. Name examples of when you
have been an advocate with
School?
Support Agencies?
Elected Officials?
36. Give an example of where you
have shown:
Courage?
Self-awareness?
Confidence?
37. Write down when you have been:
A good listener.
Able to assimilate
information.
Translate a challenge into
an Action Plan.
Able to work with others.
Able to delegate tasks.
57. Employment
National movement away from
sheltered workshops & subminimum wage
DOJ ruling in Providence, RI
November 1,2013 release of
MA Employment Blueprint
58. Self-Determination
Movement to empower those with
disabilities to decide:
Where and with whom they
want to live
What to do for work
Education
Recreation
CMS now includes SD questions
for waiver renewal
59. Some Self-Determination Principles
Supports for ourselves involve
ourselves
Supports are as flexible as
possible
Supports are user-friendly: easy
to understand, cultural sensitive,
etc.
Funding is personalized
The system is transparent
60. Rise in Autism Incidence
Advocacy in MA and elsewhere
to address services and
supports
MA Autism Commission
report & legislative/budgetary
agenda
DDS & DMH Eligibility bills
61. Rate Increases—Fair Rates
Passage of CH. 257 in 2008 and in 2011
new deadlines for implementation were set
The goal: human services contract system
based on fair and reasonable rates
Implementation has taken place for Family
Support, Employment, Community Based
Day services
Residential, Shared Living, Individual
Support and others still in process
62. Challenges- State and Federal
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Federal Deficit
Rising costs of
pensions
Tax Resistance
Infrastructure
Needs
Health Care Costs
Globalization
Partisan Politics
63. Questions and Wrap Up
Barbara L’Italien, Litalien@arcmass.org
Director of Government Affairs
