Alright – so, Minnesota Autism Center (MAC) is arguably the biggest ABA therapy center in Minnesota. I would say this is probably due to Ms. Marshall’s heavy hand manner. If you have a child with autism and live in Minnesota or are in the field of ABA, you probably heard of Kathryn. Most of us that she came in contact with have had a love/hate relationship with her. Kathryn could be really good and really bad – sometimes at the same time. For years, I have tried to figure Kathryn out and til this day – have been unsuccessful. My son did ABA therapy at MAC way back when they only did in-home ABA. Two other autism mom’s and I once recruited over 20 Somali autism parents for MAC’s Woodbury location. You would think Ms. Marshall would be grateful, nope – not Kathryn. I remember after she opened the Woodbury center and she and the three of us went to a Somali restaurant for lunch. After we ate, Kathryn gets up and throws $20.00 into the table then leaves. The three of us looked at each other and said: “we hope she does not think lunch for five people is $20.00 at a Somali restaurant”. We told her assistant who was with her to take the $20.00 and give it back to her because we will pay for lunch.
I still remember her assistant’s face who said: “no way, she will yell at me, I can’t take this back”. You see Ms. Marshall instilled fear in almost everyone that worked for her as well as many autism parents who took their children to MAC. On the other hand, she could really be kind. One time, she and again the original Somali autism advocates (Hodan, Istahil and I along with Abdihakim) took her to Rochester’s Somali TV where she asked us to help her promote MAC’s center in Rochester. In one sweet moment, she took me aside and said: “I know you are a strong advocate, but always put and advocate for your son first”. How sweet, right? then a few short years later, she would try to discharge my son from MAC at 9:47am when his therapist was to start at 10am on a Monday morning. It was probably one of the most difficult days I had with so many blood-sucking greedy ABA providers. I was livid as you can imagine. She instructed everyone at MAC to not even tell me why or what happened. You see Kathryn would say to her staff jump and everyone would say how high? This even included those that were licensed mental health professionals whose licenses were being used for the treatment plans.
I then remembered her advice from Rochester which was to advocate for my son first so I did. I blogged about this and will not do it again, but to make long advocacy short this is why we now in Minnesota have parent rights and responsibilities and a means to appeal the ABA therapy agency’s discharge or even treatment plan. This is also why EIBDI has a component that says the parents can get an objective comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluation (CMDE). Additionally, Minnesota state Medicaid agency sent MAC a corrective action to take my son back because Ms. Marshall violated child-centered family friendly part of CTSS and MAC had to develop an inclusive policy and collaborate with parents before their child is discharged. MAC also has to report to the state how many children they discharge annually. I guess everything happens for a reason. Our state probably would not have all of these good measures that protect children with autism and their families if Kathryn did not act selfish and heartless.
To Kathryn, if you read my blog which I heard you do:
I know you tried to connect with me to extend an olive branch or maybe for me to stop writing my experiences while my son was at MAC. You have tried to have your hot shot lawyers to silence me and they could not, you have tried to contact members of the Somali community to silence me and they could not. You see Kathryn, no one will ever silence me about autism or advocating for my son which is what you told me years ago in Rochester.
This time, I will extend an olive branch and will contact you to have coffee for old times sake. Our children have autism and we need to at least help each-other for their sake. Additionally, while I disagreed how you managed MAC’s staff and parents, no one else can claim the powerhouse you made MAC become in Minnesota and probably in the midwest. I truly wish you all the best in your new agency which is helping young adults with autism. Clearly, you are ahead of the pack again because we sorely need such important services.
Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee
Idil – Somali Autism Mom