Monthly Archives: December 2023

Alright – so, as an autism mom, I am tired 8am, 8pm, 1pm and 1am and in-between. I cannot remember the last time I slept 8 hours straight without interruption. This is the same for almost all autism parents. We are tired and exhausted. Children with autism often do not sleep at night. I once fainted after my son did not sleep for three days and nights straight. This is not unusual for our families.

For the Somali community, autism is soooo high and it is impacting us profoundly. When I see a Somali family with two-year-old with autism, my heart breaks. My son is 21 now and for our community to still have no answers is hard, heartbreaking and tiring.

We have to produce Somali researchers, BCBAs, licensed mental professionals, developmental peds, psychologists and psychiatrists. It is more tiring to be always alert with providers that do not reflect our community.

So, pretty please; if you a young black, brown and/or Somali person, learn to be any autism professional. Learn about autism, learn about our children, families and needs. We are in need of your services, support and guidance.

When I see a therapist that reflects my son, my heart melts and I am relaxed. I can speak for almost every minority autism parents. It is a different feeling.

Now, there may be some Oreo and twinkie people – I do not speak for you. You can read my blogs about Oreos and twinkies.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Trying to retire advocate.

Alright – so, IACC. How is it possible for anyone who works with children with autism to not know about IACC. Seriously? Anyone who cites research, funding plus, plus, plus needs to know who IACC is, what they do and how you can be in the know about autism.

I have seen so many people including parents, therapists, agencies, etc. have zero idea about this federal autism committee. As the chair of NIMH and IACC – Dr. Insel used to say – if it is about autism, it is being talked in IACC. If it is about autism, IACC is on it.

My gently friendly advice is get to know this committee. Even apply to be on their public committee. As a public member, you are selected by the US. Health and Human Services Department. IACC is funded and governed by a federal law – autism cares. Get to know this law, the authors of it, the process of it, so on and so forth.

You cannot help children with autism and their families if you do not know what laws, rules and policies that govern the services.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Trying to retire advocate.

Alright – so, where can I even start. Because the neglect and subconscious bias of DHS’ EIDBI team, BCBA is now required for EIDBI benefit. There are not enough BCBAs in this state at all. They did not consult with stakeholders as required by EIDBI statute. They did not check to see if we have adequate and diverse BCBAs. We do not. So, what happened as a result?

BCBAs came into Minnesota from various agencies with the intent to take financial advantage of minority ABA agencies who are mostly Somalis in Minnesota. Ugh.

Soomaaliduna waxay dhaqan u leedahay in ay lacag iska bixiyaan iyaga oo aan fahansanayn waxba. The ability for so many Somali ABA agencies to pay highway robbery to these blood sucking BCBA consultants has driven the cost to the point of madness. For example, they are charging thousands of dollars per few hours a month. Hello, will the real slim shady please stand up. The reimbursement for a BCBA in Minnesota is anywhere between $70 to $80. Where the heck is this money going to come from? It will bankrupt the agency which will hurt tremendously the child and family. Is that we want?

To DHS, this highway robbery fees they are charging mostly minority/Somali ABA agencies will result cutting corners from the children and families’ quality of care. You know the people you pretend to care about.

What can be done about this. Repeal and amend this crappy law and change it to something that is reasonable. Make sure these out of state BCBAs go through better and rigorous screenings and rules to ensure the cost is reasonable. DHS needs to audit them to make sure they are not taking advantage of anyone let alone the already screwed with minority communities.

Ugh, I am sooooo frustrated by the current DHS commissioner’s inability to understand have a better handle of autism services under EIDBI.

We elect the people who create/amend/delete laws in Minnesota. This is the time to contact them and request change in this BCBA requirement. It is not working; it has not increased quality. It has added to low quality and decreased services to the children and families. DHS – we need you to wake up and do your job. You are responsible to ensure people with disabilities are getting quality of care services in a manner that is person-centered and culturally responsive.

To these BCBA remote consultants: You cannot preach culturally responsive when you are all non-diverse. Diversify your staff. Learn about our cultures, stop charging us highway robbery fees. Where is your highly mighty BCBA ethical code in this. Isn’t charging K Street lobbyist rate wrong? I am ashamed on the rate you are charging and the questions and belittling you are doing with so many Somali ABA agencies. On a weekly basis, I get a phone call from some Somali ABA agency complaining about you – the remote BCBA. Come on now. Stop intimidating and belittling us. It is not ok and cannot be tolerated.

To Somali ABA agencies: Waxa aad soo galaysaan maaha business, waa caruur hooyo iyo aabo dhaleen. Hadii aydaan naga naxayn, oo aydaan noo naxariisanayn – iska taga. Barta ABA iyo autism. Barta the state/federal rules and policies. Sameeya sida saxa ah ee loo caawin lahaa carurrta autistiga ah iyo reerahooda.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.
Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Trying to retire advocate.