Mission Alpha Advocacy’s Post

Check out our #MFedInform webinar, “Autism Resources for Military Families,” to learn more about the warning signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder, unique challenges for military families, and available programs and resources: https://lnkd.in/epMdZP2B! #MFedInform #AutismAcceptanceMonth

Pulse check.... How is everyone doing? The new TRICARE West contract is in effect and new changes to #TRICARE's Autism Care Demonstration program have rolled out. -Today our team heard that some providers in TRICARE West are still waiting for new contract agreements. Families if you have any problems continuing ABA services, please reach out to us! -TRICARE East families - Humana Military is still negotiating the contract with Rethink Autism Inc to provide the outcome measures (SRS, Vineland, and Parent Stress Assessments) virtually to families. If your beneficiaries's outcome measures are due soon, create a back up plan in case Rethink is not an option. -ALL families enrolled in the ACD will receive autism services navigators (ASN). Previously ASNs were only for families new to the ACD program but now everyone must have an ASN. Do not decline an ASN when you receive the call or else your beneficiary can not continue to receive ABA services. #autism #maa #missionalphaadvocacy #acd #efmp #military #militaryspouse

💜 Today, on National Purple Heart Day, we honor the brave men and women who have been wounded or killed in service to our country. 🇺🇸 This day also reminds us of the unique challenges faced by military families, especially their children. Here are some ways schools and educators can support children from military families: Understanding Transitions: Military families often move frequently, which can be challenging for children. Providing a welcoming environment and offering support during transitions can make a big difference. Building Connections: Encourage peer support and buddy systems to help military children build friendships and feel a sense of belonging in their new school. Flexibility and Support: Be flexible with deadlines and attendance policies, especially during times of deployment or family relocation. Understanding their unique circumstances is key. Counseling Services: Ensure access to school counselors who are trained in addressing the specific emotional and social needs of military children. Celebrate Resilience: Acknowledge and celebrate the resilience and strengths of military children. Highlight their unique experiences and contributions to the school community. Parental Involvement: Foster strong communication between schools and military parents. Keeping parents informed and involved can help create a supportive network for the child. By understanding and addressing the needs of military families, we can create an inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students. 💜 #NationalPurpleHeartDay #MilitaryFamilies #SupportOurTroops #Education #SchoolPsychology #PsychedServices #learndo

#DoD claims they are not able to cover applied behavior analysis (#ABA) services as a basic #TRICARE health benefit due to lack of evidence to support covering it as a medical services. DoD has repeatedly reported to Congress they must have Randomized Controlled Trials in order to make the determination that ABA services are a proven medical service for autism treatment. This is a clip from the November 2024 public hearing by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee reviewing the Autism Care Demonstration (#ACD) program. This committee member asks an expert in research ethics her opinion on the ethics of mandating a Randomized control trial to determine coverage of ABA services. The expert's response was eye-opening. #MAA is committed to continue advocating on behalf of military families with exceptional needs to ensure access to worldclass helthcare and a high quality of life. #missionalphaadvocacy #military #militaryfamily #militaryspouse

Let's talk about some common themes we are seeing with military families navigating special education.  1. Supports transferring after PCS - Families are reporting struggles with services transferring from one duty station to the next or from a DODEA school to a district or county school. 2. Disability-related suspensions - Families are reporting suspensions that are due to the code of conduct per the school but also appear to be directly related to the learner's disability. 3. Special Education Evaluation Denials - Families report requesting special education evaluations, sometimes in writing, and the request is denied due to the school feeling that there is no need due to there being no behavior concerns. 4. How to request a special education evaluation - Families have learners who have 504 plans or no program in place and are unsure of how to request because verbal conversations have not led to an evaluation or plan in place. 5. Appropriate accommodation and supports - Families have inquired about what supports and accommodations could benefit their disabled learners.  6. Requesting 1:1 - Families are inquiring about how they request a 1:1 and what are the requirements for this. So these are some items we will delve into in the coming days.  Do you have similar issues as a military family? Are you seeing similar concerns as organizations and individuals supporting military families?  Like, share, comment, and save for content like this! #MilitaryChildren #MilitaryFamilies #EFMP #SpecialEducation

Sharing a presentation that I will be delivering to a few different Canadian Armed Forces groups. It may be useful for anyone who wishes to learn about the strengths and challenges of autism within a national defence environment and how best to support this unique neurodivergent group to access their unique skills and perspectives. Enhancing the Canadian Armed Forces' operational capability and effectiveness through neurodiversity and neuroinclusion and making it a more welcoming place for autistics will require the following: - Actively eradicating ableist attitudes and practices that marginalize individuals based on their cognitive makeup - Addressing and dismantling unconscious biases to create a supportive environment for minds-of-all-kinds - Embedding neuroinclusion as a foundational element of culture, policies and practices throughout all levels - Learning and researching best practices for attracting and retaining neurodiverse talent

Here are lessons learned from years of advocating as a CEO of MAA 1)you can’t just rely on your story. Always tie the story back to a “so what”. I try to tie it back to the four R’s. Readiness, Resilience, Retention, and Recruitment. 2)Grow where you are planted. You may not be able to travel to Capitol Hill. Focus on your local networks first and then spread out. Have discussions with your base command, chamber of commerce, state legislators, and federal legislators 3)Be a Relentless Learner. Always ask questions. Why is it this way? How did this start? How can it be better? Below is a clip where I share another military family’s story with a Congressionally mandated committee reviewing autism services for military families. What are your lessons learned from advocating?

Military children and teens can benefit from therapy! Just like adults, children may struggle with change. The Cohen Clinic at Metrocare provides therapy for transitional challenges, anxiety, depression & more for children and teens of #militaryfamilies. https://lnkd.in/grgxJp6f #military #teens #family #therapy #mentalheath

Our schools need our help!😦 Check out my new blog post about what we can do to save the US public school system from conservative extremism. https://wix.to/UmwRppD #newblogpost

With Ben Adams, Melanie Baak & Samantha Schulz, I am excited to share our new book 'Vulnerability, Extremism, and Schooling: Restorative Practices, Policy Enactment, and Managing Risk' with Rowman & Littlefield. This work delves into the efforts of educational policymakers to address susceptibility to extremism within schools and communities which are marginalized. 🌍 The book addresses: 🌐 Global Efforts: We capture how schools worldwide are enmeshed in the fight against susceptibility to extremism. ⚖️ Complexity of Extremism: The book captures the politically charged nature of extremism and the key tensions associated with it. ❤️ Affective Governance: We adopt affective governance, as a theoretical lens, to examine a Restorative Practice approach to combat extremism in schooling. 📊 Policy and Risk Management: The book highlights how policy implementation often aligns with broader government agendas focused on Beck's notion of risk management. 🌟 Impact on Marginalized Communities: While extremism is linked to systemic marginalization, we foreground the need to critique how extremism is handled as various approaches may inadvertently harm the populations they aim to support. For those interested in education, policy, and social justice, this book offers a critical perspective on how we can better support educators and policymakers navigating the complex landscape of extremism. 🌟 (https://lnkd.in/eb4DDQ_X) #Education #Policy #SocialJustice #Extremism #Community #AffectiveGovernance #RestorativePractices