MiPAAC

10/15/2026

New coverage from 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐫/𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 highlights the statewide coalition opposing the Michigan Department of Education’s proposed deletion of MARSE R 340.1853(4).

AAoM, MiPAAC and organizations representing families, students, educators, disability advocates and community partners across Michigan are urging MDE to:

- Withdraw the proposed deletion of R 340.1853(4);
- Retain the existing student protection;
- Explain why MDE stopped implementing the rule “many years ago”; and
- Meaningfully engage affected communities before considering changes to the safeguard.

📰 Read the coverage:
https://pro.stateaffairs.com/mi/education/michigan-special-education-rule-opposition

⏰ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Written comments must reach MDE by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, October 16.

Comments may be submitted through MDE’s online form or emailed to [email protected] with “Rule Set 2026-14 ED” in the subject line.

Learn more and access the public-comment information:
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/special-education/spotlight/noticeofpublichearing2026-14ed

𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝. 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 -- 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

Autism Alliance of Michigan
AW Law - Michigan

10/13/2026

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Today, we had the opportunity to bring the story behind Michigan’s Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint (MI Blueprint) to the Council of Michigan Foundations’ 54th Annual Conference in Grand Rapids!

Our session, 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, explored what it takes to move from individual experiences and fragmented efforts toward collective understanding, shared power, and meaningful policy reform.

Together with Jen DeNeal of The Skillman Foundation, educators Jordan Cross and Denina Williams Goings, and parent advocate Marisa Brizzolara, we shared how years of listening, organizing, documenting experiences, building evidence, and connecting partners helped lay the groundwork for statewide special education funding reform.

We also invited participants to explore their own roles in systems change -- considering who holds the power to inform, influence, and act, and how philanthropy can help connect those forms of power without owning the solutions.

One of our biggest takeaways: 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭.

Grateful to our speakers, the engaged participants, and The Skillman Foundation for investing in the relationships and infrastructure that make this work possible.

The MI Blueprint is an important milestone, but the work doesn't end with a report. We must continue moving toward implementation and better outcomes for Michigan students with disabilities.

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝. 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞. 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲.

Autism Alliance of Michigan

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2022.

10/13/2026

Today (10/13) is the second day of public hearings on the proposed changes to MARSE. Join and make your voices heard!

10/12/2026

𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐄𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐄, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒.

A protection that isn't being enforced should be strengthened not eliminated.

In a new Bridge Michigan commentary, Heather Eckner, Director of Statewide Education at the Autism Alliance of Michigan, and Liz Abdnour, special education attorney with AW Law - Michigan, raise concerns about the Michigan Department of Education's (MDE) proposal to remove an important safeguard from Michigan's special education rules.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞?

Michigan's current rules allow MDE to require a school district to maintain a student's educational placement and services during a state complaint investigation when a proposed change would violate the student's due-process protections.

MDE acknowledges that it stopped using this authority years ago. Now, rather than examining why the protection has gone unenforced, the department proposes deleting it.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

For students with disabilities, losing critical instruction, services, or supports while a complaint is investigated can cause harm that isn't easily repaired afterward.

And for families, the state complaint process provides a more accessible avenue for addressing potential violations than a formal due-process hearing.

𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 - 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Michigan should be working to strengthen accountability, improve implementation, and ensure that student rights are meaningful in practice, not just on paper.

The message is simple: Enforce the protections. Don't erase them.

PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY & TOMORROW — MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒: MDE is holding public hearings on the proposed Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) changes:

📅 Monday, October 12 | 2:00–5:00 PM — Virtual hearing

📅 Tuesday, October 13 | 9:00–11:00 AM — Virtual hearing

📅 Tuesday, October 13 | 3:30–5:00 PM — In-person hearing in Lansing

Written public comments are due Friday, October 16, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET.

🔗 Read the full commentary: https://bridgemi.com/guest-commentary/opinion-michigan-should-enforce-not-erase-protections-for-students-with-disabilities/

🔗 Hearing details, proposed rules, and public comment information: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/special-education/spotlight/noticeofpublichearing2026-14ed

The department’s decision not to use a safeguard should not become the rationale for erasing it.

10/07/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?

Next week at the Council of Michigan Foundations 54th Annual Conference, and will help tell the story behind the 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 (MI Blueprint)—and, more importantly, the people and partnerships that made the work possible.

During “𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞,” Heather Eckner of the Autism Alliance of Michigan and Jen DeNeal of The Skillman Foundation will be joined by 𝐌𝐢𝐏𝐀𝐀𝐂 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 to explore what happens when philanthropy, advocates, families, educators, researchers, and policy leaders intentionally 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 around a shared challenge.

The MI Blueprint didn’t begin with a predetermined policy solution. It grew from years of listening, organizing, documenting lived experience, building evidence, convening partners, and taking the next logical step toward change.

We’re excited to share this story with Michigan’s philanthropic community and especially excited that 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

📍 CMF 54th Annual Conference | Grand Rapids
📅 Tuesday, October 13
⏰ 11:45 AM–1:00 PM

View the CMF conference agenda and session details: https://www.michiganfoundations.org/events/cmf-54th-annual-conference/agenda

10/06/2026

𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘: 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐞.

A new report from The 74 highlights one of the significant issues at stake: the proposed federal rule would remove Head Start’s current nationwide protections limiting the suspension and expulsion of young children. Instead, programs would generally look to state and local requirements—meaning protections could vary considerably depending on where a child lives.

For the disability community, this deserves particular attention.

Head Start’s current approach recognizes that challenging behavior should prompt 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, rather than simply exclusion. The 74 notes that children with disabilities are already disproportionately affected by exclusionary discipline in preschool settings.

This connects to a larger concern with the proposed changes:𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?

Head Start is an important part of that infrastructure.

⏰ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 -- 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟔.

Read The 74: https://www.the74million.org/zero2eight/suspending-and-expelling-head-start-students-could-get-much-easier-under-trump/

A proposed federal rule change would remove protections, leaving it up to states to decide whether 700K preschoolers can be excluded from care.

10/02/2026

𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓.

A student can spend part or most of the school day in a general education classroom and still not experience meaningful inclusion.

True inclusion is about more than 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 students with disabilities learn. It is about whether they have meaningful access to the curriculum, instruction, supports, relationships, activities, and sense of belonging that make them full members of their school community.

So, what should we be looking for?

➡️ Are students with disabilities welcomed throughout the school, not just in a designated “inclusion classroom”?
➡️ Are they learning alongside their peers across academic subjects, not only during art, music, lunch, or PE?
➡️ Does the school adapt instruction and provide supports rather than asking whether a student is “ready” for inclusion?
➡️ Are students meaningfully participating in the same curriculum, with individualized accommodations, modifications, and supports when needed?
➡️ Are school schedules designed to make inclusion possible rather than fitting special education in afterward?
➡️ Do students belong in the everyday life of the school—not just during disability awareness activities or separate events?

The question isn't: “Is this student ready for inclusion?”

We should be asking:“𝐈𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲?”

Meaningful inclusion means maintaining high expectations while ensuring students receive the individualized instruction, services, accommodations, and supports they need to 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬.

What does meaningful inclusion look like in your school community?

09/28/2026

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲!

It’s always a highlight for Heather Eckner, Director of Statewide Education at the Autism Alliance of Michigan, to return to the Michigan Alliance for Families 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 (𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐀) program, especially for the final celebration weekend.

As a 2014 LIPA alum, Heather had the opportunity this year to engage the graduating cohort around “𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞” and share lessons from AAoM’s Education Initiatives and the network.

One of the messages at the center of the conversation: 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞.

Story ➡️ System ➡️ Collective Action

Congratulations to the 2026 LIPA graduates!

We’re excited to see how this group continues building and bridging advocacy power across Michigan. 💚

🔥 Keep lighting those fires. Systems change is collective work.

Learn more about AAoM's Education Initiatives: https://autismallianceofmichigan.org/education-initiatives/