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