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Alright – so, where do I even start with Dakota County. Almost all of their current commissioners were state elected officials at some point. They voted against what later became EIDBI in Minnesota when they were in the state legislature. They also voted to eliminate then Minnesota autism Task Force. How do you like them apples. Watkins was the worst as he was a chair committee. He voted to get public funding from the state budget to subsidize private insurance to cover autism therapy but voted against Medicaid covering the same services for the low income-autism family.

Now, they have even more power in my humble opinion at the county. Counties are extremely strong and have zero person to answer to including DHS. From what I understand, DHS does random audits, but nothing ever comes out of it. At best, they get a slap on the wrist but nothing meaningful. So, then who oversees counties – the commissioners who are elected by the people of the county.

Now we are cooking. There is a Somali – Yusuf Haji who is running in Dakota county to be a commissioner. I don’t know if he will win, if he does, it will be history as we currently have zero Somali county commissioners. In fact, the only county in Minnesota’s 87 counties that has anyone with a suntan is Hennepin which has two minority commissioners. It has been refreshingly pleasant to go to a county commissioner about racial disparities and have them look like you. Going to a white commissioner or any position for that matter and asking about racial disparities is like going to a man to explain about childbirth. It just does not sink in with them even if they care. We have to change this landscape and have more than two county commissioners who look like us in Minnesota.

Please elect Yusuf so that the people in charge of Dakota county reflect the people they serve. 

In summary, counties is where almost all autism services come from. Dakota is by far the most difficult county I have ever advocated in. They often do not provide or even inform Somali autism families the resources and support their children need and qualify for. Parents do not ask because how do you ask for something you don’t know exists. You do not. And, if you know enough to call them and say – I need help. They will offer you the least support. They hardly suggest home safety modifications, water safety or waiver services. We have complained about them to the moon and back. No one has been able to make them do right because the power lies in the commissioner’s office and Liz Workman has been missing in action for the Somali autism community. We need to vote her out if we want support for our families. Voting for the same people and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

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

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, it is that time again when we see much confusion and more confusing ads and well you get the point. I was just watching the daily show where they had acted one of Kamala’s ads where people are nodding to each-other to give signal and voting for her. What now? Laughing out-loud.
Ok, seriously that is what we have become, women lying to their  husbands about who they voted for. Yeah, let’s start lying to each-other now. Oh wait, that is exactly what the dflers do, tell us they will help during the election then drop us like a hot-potato after. Gee, I wonder where I have seen that before.

Now, this blog is only about autism. In Dakota county, Yusuf Haji is running against Liz Workman who has not helped any autism family. She represents Burnsville and Apple Valley area. I know that we contacted her multiple times for autism families and she could care less. In my humble opinion, she is useless, cold, heartless and needs to be voted out. Now, county elections are hard to diversify – yet. A Somali ran before in Scott County and did not win. I know if people keep trying, they will eventually prevail. Besides, Somalis are politically savvy here and across the world.

Gov. Walz – I can write a book about how horrible his autism or lack there-of have been. His health department – MDH has done zero, nada for autism. In fact, the last time Minn health dept has done anything autism was under Gov. Pawlenty who was a Republican. Imagine that. DHS or the state Medicaid agency, well they have screwed with Somalis in autism and everything else human services more than any other governor. You don’t have to ask Jack or Jane that. Their moto is bait and close and shame. If you own any kind of human services agency or have a need for human services including autism, then getting rid of Walz is our best bet. I have seen some families say, well if we vote him in the VP slot, then at least he leaves Minnesota. Not really, his Lt. Gov is just like him. Then we will have him four years in a higher position and his crappy state policies will be pushed by Peggy F. I say do not vote for him as VP and/or anything else for that matter. He is good at using catchy phrases – remember One Minnesota, that was a hoax. Remember slave descent blacks getting help. That was to divide wiil iyo abitigiis and produced nada.

Now, he says we mind our own damn business. Now what now. When he forced families to lose rights of raising their children, did he mind his own business. Heck not, he minded your business. Please do not pay attention to his charm and charisma, look at his policies or lack thereof.

Minnesota House: Everyone is up for re-election. I am always for the Republicans because they at least won’t screw with us. They won’t have shaah and sanbusa with us. They will tell us what they can and cannot do in less than 10 seconds – period. On the other hand, dflers will waste our time, eat sanbusa and drink shaah, learn two Somali words, promise the ocean and not even deliver a pond. I think the choice is clear.

Minnesota Senate: Currently, there is 33 dflers and republicans. There were 34 dfl and 33 republicans before with two of the dflers being Somali. This meant by the way, anything that passed for the last couple of years had the blessing of the two Somali senators including taking away family rights and teaching our children things that are not in our culture. You can be a democrat and not sell your soul – you know.

We are making some headway in Minnesota and even in Ohio, WA, etc. Few weeks ago, Voice of America media held a political debate between Somali Republicans and Somali Democrats in Bloomington. Now that is progress. The dfler no longer own our votes. Yum yum.

I knew this day would come!

In summary, the choice is all ours. Please vote based on issues and what is important to you. To me, it is always autism and it ain’t the dflers. I don’t need a charming boyfriend who tells me what I want to hear and never delivers anything. I have already had that in college. I need a nerd and mature husband who is an adult and means what he says and says what he means.

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

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, if you know me or read my blog then you are fully aware that I despise the current DHS administration and leadership. Oh wait, despise is not strong enough, let me rephrase that. I loathe DHS’ current leadership. Why? Ain’t that a good question.

In the interest of fairness and transparency, DHS is by far the agency that I have made the most progress in my autism advocacy. Sadly, we now have Walz and the current commissioner Harpstead. They make North Korea more welcoming. It seems that I am not the only they discriminate against. PRM reported today that under Walz administration, DHS’ racial discrimination cases have risen tremendously. What a shocker.

“PRM has submitted a number of requests to the Walz-era DHS — some within the administration’s early days, and others more recently.  As the organization is divided into several sub-components, results have been mixed. In 2020, the agency responded to a PRM data request with a production of memos, e-mails, and summary data.  The data PRM sought pertained to racial diversity issues at DHS, and the agency produced a collection of records that revealed both employee complaints (including a letter sent to Lt. Gov. Flanagan from DHS employees); as well as management e-mails and memos pertaining to responses.

Summary data provided by DHS showed that the total number of racial discrimination and harassment complaints filed by DHS by employees rose to 31 under the first year of the Walz administration, up from 22 in 2018 (the last year of the Dayton administration).  The number then fell to 23 in 2020.  Prior to 2018, the agency had an average of 7 complaints per year during the Dayton administration, and an average of only 1.5 per year during the final two years of the Pawlenty administration. (DHS noted that it did not “maintain responsive data prior to 2009”).

DHS and Commissioner Harpstead discriminating against people of color, no way. That is absurd. Not really, that is how they roll. It gets better, you just wait…

Remember how they go after Somali autism agencies for stealing Medicaid funds, well it turns out MCOs steal hundreds of millions of Medicaid funds and DHS does not even blink. They may even share the stolen money with the MCO since they delete any records to know for sure. And, wait for it…. drum roll pls….there is NO law that says DHS must audit and hold MCOs accountable for the hundreds of millions the state gives them. Now what now? Yep, that is right. So who writes about this? where is the media here? No where to be seen.

“Documents produced by DHS revealed several important facts — including that the taxpayer-funded “rates” that were being paid to HMOs had minimal outside verification, and that Deloitte Consulting had told the state that there was no consistent methodology being used to allocate HMO administrative expenses.

This internal agency data shed additional light on concerns raised by Feinwachs, as well as by the Minnesota Legislative Auditor and the federal Government Accountability Office.  Ultimately, DHS hired outside firms (including the Segal Company) to review public program management.  In its final report, Segal wrote that the DHS “rate-setting process” raised “serious questions.”

Under the MGDPA, PRM was able to copy and publish thousands of pages of agency financial reports, e-mails, and other data during this period — data that members of the press and policy makers utilized as the discussion around public program management continued.  E-mails obtained by PRM also showed that DHS staff sought to steer the direction of a supposedly “independent” legislative study into managed care by attempting to keep agency critics — such as Feinwachs — from being interviewed.  Without the MGDPA, such data would likely never have been publicly available”.

Now I get it. Delete public data that would tell the public where the money is going. Deny people like Feinwachs to be interviewed, discriminate against people when they ask for accountability and go after the low-hanging fruit like the Somali community because you know they are not going to fight back nor even understand how – Yet. God willing, we will one day. You see, our community is sooooo behind, almost a century in understanding how crook DHS and the Walz administration has been and continue to be. For example, DHS solicited and kept approving Somali autism centers without training, ensuring people understood EIDBI policy and rules, kept increasing the rate despite my against testimonies because with more reimbursement, you attract all yukies. Then once they had enough village idiots in the pool, and they needed a distraction, DHS starts harassing Somali autism agencies and closing them without care to how this will impact the children. If DHS and I am sure they are, as data will tell us is going after, and only investigating Somali autism agencies while it does not do the same for non-Somali autism centers – then Houston, we will have a problem. There is a name for treating people who are similarly situated differently. What is it? oh yeah, discrimination. 

Remember, when Minnesota Autism Center and Lovaas stole millions of Medicaid funds, did DHS close them. Heck to the nope. Why, there were white children with autism going to these agencies. But when it is Somali children whether it is day care or autism center, DHS will close shop faster than a hot NY minute.

One of the liberal reporters called Somalis “shrewd”. Google tells me this is what that means – ” having or showing astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise”. 

That is an insult and below the belt. If we are morally corrupt then what is DHS. They should’ve made sure before the autism agency opens, it is equipped properly, and people are trained and understand what they are supposed to do. After all, this benefit – EIDBI is to help the child and family. This is not selling furniture, it is about actual children and real families. To DHS and their to go to reporters, our children are not human to them. It is simply cost of doing business and a distraction for them to avoid their own moral corruption.

A must watch of how David Feinwachs explains the MN Medicaid Fraud that DHS pretends to not see. DHS only sees when Somalis make mistakes. How lovely.

The full PRM story – it is soooooo good. 

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

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate.

Alright – so, for decades now, autism families have been struggling with housing. As we all know, autism is a developmental disability and often children have behaviors that causes self-injury and property destruction. Even for my own self, we have had more water damage and floods than I can count. I remember, one night while I was sleeping, I heard water running and thought it was raining outside. Nope, it was our home being flooded. I finally realize, run to the bathroom and my kid is just chilling in bathtub overflowing having the best sensory time.

This is our life and is 100 times worse for families who rent and do not own their own home. I see it at least weekly if not more a family who is being bullied by some kind of an apartment management. Families being evicted because of their children’s autism – what can be more heartbreaking. Yes, there are federal laws that is supposed to protect them, but often our families do not know about it or understand it well enough to fight back.
They are vulnerable and public housing entities take advantage of them time and time again.

Last year, we spoke with the Somali legislators and asked if they could do something. Nothing was done but maybe someone can take on this fight and advocate it harder. No, not me. I am really trying to retire. I am tired and I have zero desire to go back to the capital at all.
If you are a family who is being threatened, bullied, or intimidated by public housing, section 8 or even a privately owned property, you have rights if your child has autism. Please contact Homeline and the department of housing and urban development to file a complaint. You have the right to ask for and get reasonable accommodation for your child. You have the right to ask and get environmental accessibility adaptation to whatever you are renting. Learn what your rights and responsibilities are and do not let these blood sucking housing management folks intimidate you. You are not alone.

The best thing is to see if you can get your own home then you can safely modify it to meet your child’s disability without any crappy outside voices or hindering issues. There is EAA that can help with home safety modifications and now we even have one Somali EAA assessor and Contractor, yay!

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

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Trying to Retire Advocate

Alright – so, even though Bud passed away almost a year ago, I am having a hard time digesting it. I know he is in a better place, but this had hit me very hard. Bud was by far one of my favorite people in Minnesota. He was extremely smart, articulate, kind, funny and soooo passionate about and for people with disabilities. He knew disability laws more than anyone I have ever seen.

He had an unbelievable ability to recall every detail about every disability law, how it came about and everything in-between. My last conversation with him was last year. I called him to learn more about the process of MN choice assessments. I remember telling him he was now a hotshot who rubbed shoulders with the governor. You see he was appointed by Gov Walz to head the state’s ombudsman’s office. And, he said to me “even though I am a hot shot now, I still answer your phone”. So true. No matter who you were Bud answered your call and helped you. Whether you had GED or PhD, Bud was treated you with respect and kindness. I will sorely miss Bud and his mind.

During my autism advocacy, there isn’t one single issue that I did not get advice from Bud. One of my most memorable times was when we met with CMS and DHS via phone, this was before Zoom was popular. Bud simply told both the federal and state agency that unless low-income autism families were going to get equal and fair treatment in how services were offered – he will sue them. He was rare, honest, brutally honest, did I say kind, smart, kind, detail oriented, and so much more.

Bud, you will be missed by millions of disability families in Minnesota and across the country. May you rest in peace.
Idil

Alright so, now that I have retired from advocacy, I reflect and see what we did and how it was done. I realize that even when you have good policies and laws the fruits still depend on who is in charge at the state Medicaid agency.

I have advocated countless DHS commissioners and asst/deputy/etc., but the current one takes the racist cake. Harpstead is by far the worst one. She is savvy in how she screws with minority autism families. She hires Black and brown people that she knows do not give a flying hoot. If you look at the DHS leadership bio, you will think – it is a poster in a minority company in Atlanta or something. Then when you see what they accomplish or have done thus far you will see they are — oh what is the word…… it is really original, not really, it is title that we sadly have so many of them in minority communities especially within the black community, it is called ……House Negro also known as an Oreo, for the brown person it is called twinkie. Black and brown on the outside but pure George Wallace on the inside. Ugh so frustrating.

For EIDBI, DHS hired two white women. One writes policies as an DHS employee then goes to the state legislator and makes sure what she wrote as DHS EIDBI policy lead gets passed as a law. I dare you to tell me a Black or brown person with the same privilege. The other one uses her BCBA certification to provide credit education under DHS. What now? what the heck does that have to do with autism therapy? nada, zilch, zero and yuk.
No one in DHS leadership seems to see the problem with this. Nope, it is all good when they all look like each other. These two are given complete power without regard to how it affects autism families and EIDBI providers.
Further, they have approved sooooo many Somali and other minority EIDBI providers without making sure they understand the rules and policies. DHS has refused to train new and current EIDBI providers. Naturally when you do not know policies and what you are supposed to do, you will make mistakes. When minority agencies make mistakes what does DHS do? screw with them faster than a NY minute and drop them like a hot potato. Keep in mind white autism providers who steel millions like Lovaas and BDI are not on the news, billing never suspended, they even forgive the money they stole. How do you like them apples.

Folks, this is your votes at work. Lax walba meeshay is dhigtaa laga helaa.
Do not even get me started with county problems. You know the counties where DHS gives public funds to help people with autism and other disabilities. Counties like Dakota constantly short-change Somali autism families and other black/brown families. Yet, DHS has zero system to help these families to understand their rights and responsibilities. Ugh.

Well it is election year again, we cannot keep voting for the same people and expect different policies.

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

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, if you are an autism parent or in the autism field, then you have heard that a white liberal, privileged and entitled woman has been elected in Rochester to the state legislature. She is also the policy lead for autism in the state human services agency. And she is in every human services committee in the house. Now, this is what they call really privileged. How does this even work. Is Melissa Hortman blind or just playing favoritism. Is DHS stupid or tricking people. This would be Saturday night live funny sketch if it were not sadly true.

How does even work. From Jan to May, Rep. Hicks creates laws, rules, and policies for DHS then from June to Dec works at DHS to implement those rules, laws, and policies.

She has gone further, she has been advising Rep. Noor, Rep. Hassan and Rep. Hussein about autism and DHS. Now what now? Will the real slim shady stand up. This is how Democracy works in Minnesota for white liberal women.

And her job is kept for her and secure for six months while she writes and creates laws for the same agency she works for. Um, excuse me but does autism take a break from Jan to May. This is what it means to be biased in your core. This is what it means when people mention institutional racism. This is how being white female and liberal works in Minnesota. Yep. Welcome to the land of 10,000 racial disparities.

We ask Rep. Hicks to stop giving wrong and biased advice to the few Somali elected officials we have in the state legislator. Yes, autism is disproportionately higher in our community. How dare you convince them otherwise. If DHS and Hortman were fair, they would not give you this dual role that you seem to be exploiting for your own benefit while screwing with other communities. We also ask that you stop giving advice to the all white autism group about EIDBI policies. This is wrong on every level. Have you no shame.

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

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, if you read my blog or know me then you are aware I am not a fan of the teacher’s union in Minnesota. They are known as Education Minnesota. There is nothing educational about them. They control every democrat in Minnesota including many of the black and brown legislators. In fact, some even work for them like Rep. Frazier. So, what gives? Well, we get who we vote for and if we do not hold these politicians accountable for their policies or lack thereof then we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Voting is only part of the problem, the other is ensuring they do what they promised their voters. How can we do that? Following and understanding legislations. This is no small task. I know – even I get a headache and get tired at times. So, what did Education Minnesota do this legislative session and why are so many black and brown legislators including Somalis standing by idle – no pun intended.

1. They managed to take the discipline bill out of the big Senate education Omnibus bill. They can blame the GOPs and the sun, but it is all of them. The GOPs are not in power in any state government body. Not one single black/brown legislator protested or spoke against it in the Senate floor including the two Somali senators. Ugh.
2. They ensured our children do NOT read at grade level. What now? isn’t school supposed to teach students to read at grade level. Nope, if you are the white teacher who wants to fail and suspend our children.
3. They ensured Ethnic studies were an optional and NOT a requirement. That means our history is not a requirement to learn in schools, but white history is. How do you like them apples.

The saddest and most frustration of all is that all of these crappy policies and laws are happening when there are more black and brown legislators in Minnesota including the senate than ever before in history. So, why vote for black and brown people if we are still going to be screwed with?

Education Minnesota tells any democrat to change, add, delete any law or policy and they jump on it with no hesitation and no reservation. This is the organization that managed to fire the teacher of the year few years ago. She was a Somali teacher.

Let’s put this into prospective. Minnesota has one of the worst suspension rates for children with autism, other disabilities as well as black and brown students, and we cannot pass a law to keep them in school? Minnesota has one of the worst education gaps in the country and we cannot require teachers to teach kids to read at grade level? And, Minnesota has so many racist and bias policies, but we cannot require all students to learn our ethnic history which should be American history. This is sooooo irritating and frustrating.

When I started my autism advocacy in 2008, I used to think – only if there were more black and brown legislators who looked like me then there would be progress. Now there are 5 Somalis, countless other black and brown legislators, and we are still struggling. What the heck?

Giving two-dollar grants to few agencies does not make up the horrible and shameful racial disparity we have in this state. We have to learn how to vote better and how to hold them accountable. Voting for the same people and expecting different policies is the definition of insanity.

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

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Advocate