Alright – so, if you follow any autism policy or my blog then you know that Dr. Larsson whom I think is arguably the most racist and arrogant SOB psychologist and runs Lovaas autism center and Minnesota Department of Human Services’ EIDBI clinical lead Nicole Berning have been colluding and meeting for months to strategize how to close, shame and shut down Somali owned EIDBI centers.
Now, one would say what the heck? Well – let’s dissect it. Nicole used to work for Lovaas/Eric Larsson. She thinks highly of him. She wants to open her own EIDBI center and has been pushing the board certification for behavior analysts. Guess who wrote that legislation with Lovaas/Larsson – drum roll please ….wait for it…..Rep. Kim Hicks who was the policy person for EIDBI and you guessed it, Nicole Berning. How do you like them apples. It gets better and more collusion happens.
- They (Nicole and Kim) meet with Larsson while getting paid under DHS. What now, aren’t state employees supposed to stay neutral. Yep, except if you are white privileged white woman.
- They also meet with Lovaas/Larsson during their off time – according to Hicks. Why the heck is Hicks even doing double job, a state legislator from Jan to May then a DHS/EIDBI employee from June to Dec. Ahhh, it must be nice to be soooo privileged and have no none hold you accountable including the village idiot assistant commissioner at DHS – Merz.
- Nicole and Kim draft the language for the licensure even though that is ….what is that called – unethical at best and illegal at worst. No one at DHS gives a flying hoot about it. Not yet anyway.
- Then according to some Somalis at these exclusive meetings that Nicole organized, Larsson goes after and trashes Somali EIDBI agencies and its owners. How lovely and so righteous of him. This is the guy who discriminated against young children with autism including my son.
- He claims they do not know what they are doing, they hire young people. What the heck. Excuse me – Mr. righteous, when my son was going to your ABA agency, all your behavior therapists were between the ages of eighteen to probably early twenties. Of course, when you do it (asshole) it is fine, when a Somali does it – ooohhhh fraud. How original.
- Larsson/Lovaas along with Nicole talk about how Somali EIDBI centers are stealing and wasting Medicaid funds. What now? Excuse me (asshole) you stole $2,862,769.00. Ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black.
- Nicole is a state employee and should never be attending or colluding with anyone let alone a known racist piece of shit like Larsson/Lovaas (not a typo).
- When Larsson/Lovaas stole and committed Medicaid fraud, what did DHS do? just you wait, you will like it…drum roll pls….They negotiated with him, forgave most of the money, did not shut him down, did not report him for investigation, did not contact the media and let him continue as though nothing happened. Yes, siree bob.
- Now, DHS is led by Commissioner Heartless Harpstead who was hired by Gov Walz who has been elected by most of Minnesotans including many Somalis. How do you like them apples. When will we learn to vote wiser.
- About two years ago, Somali Autism Advocacy agencies went to DHS EIDBI manager – Mr. Flint asking to partner with them and train both Somali EIDBI providers and families. They told him “We do not want our children with autism to become collateral damage as the kids in the daycares did. Let us help you and provide training on EIDBI as so many in the Somali community do not understand this.” He refused to partner and stated “DHS did not have money”. But they have money to go after the Somali EIDBI agencies. Can real racism please stand up.
- Behavior Dimension stole Medicaid funds to the tune of $2,772,517.00. What did DHS do? Made deals with them, did not shame them, did not report them to the media or the federal government. Instead, they treated owners Jay O’Neill and Nancy Schussler as friends, not a foe. DHS ensured, their business continued without interruption and shame. Please tell me that is not pure and blatant discrimination.
- Lazarus Project provides ABA therapy was started by a group of white autism parents, stole Medicaid funds to the tune of $369,979.00. Guess what happened to them. Nada, they hired a lawyer from Byron and Fredrickson and like magic, they paid not even pennies on the dollar of what they owed. If you do not know who Byron and Fredrickson is, please stop living under a rock. I can write a book about them.
- When Larsson, Schussler, and O’Neill steal millions in Medicaid funds, nothing happens to them, and it does not become a lighting news story. When a Somali is alleged, not even convicted, or proven, it is the news in every outlet from corner to corner. Everyone is having a meltdown and wants to shame the whole community. I thought it was innocent until proven guilty, nope, if you are Somali and/or any other minority.
- My suggestion to the chairs of senate and house human services committees which now are four since the house is 67 DFL and 67 GOP, need to request data from back a decade ago to make the case of when a white provider steals millions in Medicaid, and compare it to whatever they are accusing of the Somalis now. Fairness must prevail.
As a Somali Autism Mom who sued racist SOB Larsson/Lovaas when he discriminated against my son in federal court, I am heartbroken by this. I am mad, sad, frustrated and most of all disappointed in our community and our elected officials who never seem to have a backbone.
Ok, let’s assume there are few Somali EIDBI centers who have done wrong, must the bias media label all the Somali community thieves. Must we be traumatized again. Why can’t the Somali legislators whose job is to protect and serve their constituents ask DHS Commissioner Heartless Harpstead, Nicole and Kim the following:
- How did these alleged autism centers get approved?
- Who the heck gave them authorization?
- Don’t you have mechanism to ensure accurate billing and reporting?
- If the statute says autism and related conditions, what are the related conditions? who diagnoses the child with that? how come they are not under fire?
- Why isn’t DHS not doing training and oversight to ensure quality of services for the child/family?
- Why is DHS blind and deaf to the board certified behavior analysts who are essentially robbing these Somali agencies blind? I thought the almighty BACB board had ethical guidelines, or is that a front?
- Why haven’t you reported or even took the money white autism centers/agencies stole since you are hot and heavy against the alleged Somali autism centers?
- Who the heck holds you at DHS accountable for your intentional negligence and disregard for fairness?
The Somali elected officials need to get a backbone and ensure fairness prevails.
The law for the state of Minnesota to pay for autism therapy passed in the state legislator on a rainy Thursday night on May 16, 2013. Can you imagine, I was the only person of any color/race/ethnicity left in the conference committee room that night when the autism Medicaid waiver 1915i added by Gov. Dayton was finally added to the final omnibus bill. Then we advocated at the federal government to cover autism therapy which they allowed on July 14, 2014, If you only want to hear the EIDBI part, go/click to Medicaid coverage section which I think is slide 16. Minnesota then changed its autism waiver to a state plan amendment which was approved by CMS on March 2015. I have been in every step of this process from day one to the last day it got approved. I along with other Somali autism parents have worked sooo hard to ensure the language of the legislation and the amendment were person-centered and culturally responsive. We made sure the family training component and rights/responsibilities were a big element, and to see all our hard work talked about negatively has been excruciatingly painful for me and other autism parents. It is more painful for our elected officials to do nothing and not hold DHS accountable for its double standards again.
When does justice prevail and stand tall. When?
The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.
Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate