Minnesota Department of Health is probably one of my least favorite state agencies, yet it is charged with important autism responsibilities.
So, we have been asking MDH to hire Somali autism staff for years now since back in 2011, they finally do and initially we thought – yay! Not so fast. Just because someone looks like you does not mean they care or even understand your concerns.
They are under the child and maternal health at MDH who is under Ms. Diebel who is a very diplomatic and charming person, but could care less about any mother’s health nor any child’s health. Then there is Ms. Dalbec – the village idiot whom I am not sure how exactly she go the job of supervising children with special health care needs dept, maybe she is related to someone there.
Anyway, in their planning of this Somali autism event – they willingly and purposefully excluded any Somali AUTISM parent. Think about that a bunch of people whose children DO NOT have autism plan an autism event. They say in Africa if you want to know what is wrong with a patient – ask them. Cudurka iyo xanuunka – qofka bukka ayaa la waydiiyaa.
Not MDH, they rather talk down at us, instead of engaging Somali autism parents. Then comes the icing of their ignorance – they call this stupid event Let’s talk about autism and dispel the myths. Now what now? Are they kidding me. Our children with autism are in their teens and they want to talk about the signs of autism to us now – years and even decades later. What? Oh and what myth exactly? the fact that Vaccines do not cause autism. Oh wait, that is not a myth – endless research has been done proofing that.
Yet, bunch of village idiots and over-rated government bureaucrats exclude the real people dealing with autism and come up with outdated and stupid idea for a Somali autism event. Seriously, can someone please fire MDH’s child and maternal health leaders, then combine MDH with DHS so that we have ONE state agency of MN department of health and human services. Imagine if DHS Commissioner Jesson was in charge over there – there would have been no talking down to anyone.
Let me explain what the charge for MDH is in simple terms as it was explained to me by previous MDH Commissioner Magnan. It is Assurance, Assessment and Policy. In other words, assure the public by informing them about whatever medical condition they are dealing with by giving them INFORMATION about services and resources. They clearly have failed in assuring Somali autism families have information about what services and resources are available for autism and the evidence is that our kids get diagnosed years later, don’t get access to early intervention and rarely understand or have waivers. Assessment – assess and do disease surveillance. They also failed that as Minnesota does not have any autism surveillance or assessment system, such as the ADDM. In fact, they have refused to apply it for the last CDC grant opportunity.
Then there is the policy charge which is similar to enforcing and explaining various health policies. I remember once when I was explaining to their village idiot supervisor the difference between fee for service and managed care and how they differently cover early autism intervention. I am sorry, parents should not be explaining to our state health dept anything, let alone any policy. They should be on top of things and they clearly are out to lunch and clueless. If you are getting frustrated with MDH’s lack of real tangible support, imagine how we as autism parents feel. While we deal with the real pain, frustration and desperation of autism for years now, MDH is busy trying to still learn autism myths and explain signs to us when our kids are in their teens. Sort of like – dhalaankii dhalmadda baray hooyadiis.
My advice, explain what services, treatments and resources are available to help our kids, apply for the next ADDM grant at CDC and for God sake learn about MN autism policy so you can explain it to all low income parents who have managed care coverage. Finally, unless there are Somali adults who have nonverbal autism – try not to find the Somali version of Dr. Offit and try to sell us autism existed in Somalia. It did not – period.
Thanks!
Above words do not represent any committee, agency or candidate.
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate