What Do The Huge Election Wins by Minorities in Minnesota Mean For Autism Families?

Alright – so, what a ride so many Somali Americans have had for the past year leading up to the last election. History was made by so many of them. I am extremely proud of them. I am sure it is not easy to run a campaign let alone win it. Congrats to Hodan Hassan who is a new state representative replacing Rep. Karen Clark. Mohamud Noor who won state representative replacing Ilhan Omar, Siad Ali who won again to be on the Minneapolis School Board and Ilhan Omar for winning to be a congresswoman replacing Keith Ellison who also won to be Minnesota state attorney.

So now what does this all mean for our community especially autism? I hope it means they will change the landscape of so many policies that have created disparity and discrimination. I hope they will write an autism legislation that looks in the cause of autism for Somali children and why it is higher in us. I hope they will change the current laws for how students are suspended in schools and what the consequences are for educators and school districts. I hope it means they will write into every funding from every state and federal agency to share and partner with underserved community agencies. I hope it means every dollar the University of Minnesota gets has attached policy that ensures resources are shared fairly with equity and students, fellows and faculty reflect the state’s diversity and talents. I hope it means judges appointed to Minnesota courts are as diverse as our state. I hope it means school districts are held accountable when they fail students of color. I hope it means the state legislature and state agencies’ staff reflect our state’s diversity. I hope it means current laws and policies are amended to ensure fairness, equality and equity for all Minnesotans.

I hope it means the state’s agency commissioners reflect the state’s diversity. I hope it means we all prosper and are given equal opportunities not with words, but with laws, policies, funding, appointments, resources and everything in between.

I hope it means the way DHS punishes minority-owned agencies are eliminated so that the rules are the same for all agencies irrespective of their ethnicity or race. I hope it means equality and prosperity for all. I hope it means Ken Martin and the DFLers don’t just come to our community during elections then drop us like a hot potato after they win.

Here is my wishlist for autism:

1. Either the governor allocates funding or a legislation is written that looks into the cause of autism in Somali children of why it is high and more severe. Sadly, Governor Dayton’s health department or as I like to call them “the do nothing state health agency” did not do any autism research as Dayton promised during his campaign. 
2. There is funding allocated through the governor via the department of public safety to do a thoughtful training for the state’s troopers similar to what an autism dad and officer of St. Paul police department has done. 
3. The governor or a bill is written that protects children with autism from neglect and maltreatment when in autism therapy centres. Currently, there is none and our children are vulnerable. 
4. We amend the current suspension laws for students with disabilities by getting rid of the language that states schools can suspend students up to 10 school days before they determine if the behavior is due to the student’s disability. This is wrong for students who have behavior disorders like autism and do not understand the concept of suspension nor cause/effect. The new language can say “students with disabilities can be suspended similar to that of their typical peers if their behavior was NOT due to their disability which is determined by the student’s IEP team”.
5. Finally, any state and/or federal funding that goes to state/federal agencies (MDH, DHS, MDE, HRSA, CDC, NIH, etc.) must have language that states “resources will be shared and partnered with underserved agencies and communities”. Currently, mainstream agencies just hog the majority of the resources and communities of color are left out. 

While I only care and understand about autism issues and certainly do not want to be the Jackie of all trades, I give gentle friendly suggestions to our newly elected officials. 

1. Keith Ellison must ensure the state attorney general lawyers and staff represent the diversity of the state. He campaigned hard in the Somali community and I hope he keeps his promises or at least we hold him accountable.
2. Governor Walz who campaigned on unity and one Minnesota must ensure his commissioners, office staff and state agency leaders reflect the diversity of Minnesota.
3. Funding that goes to the University of Minnesota must have some kind of accountability to ensure there is a collaboration with underserved community agencies, faculty &  administrative staff are diverse and reflect Minnesota. Currently, it does not. White liberals like Dr Amy Hewitt simply hog the resources and rarely nurture or hire researchers of color.
4. While Gov. Dayton appointed few minority judges to Minnesota courts, it is clearly not enough given this states disparities in the justice system. Therefore, upcoming Governor Walz must ensure minority lawyers are appointed to be judges similar to how Rep Thissen was appointed to Minnesota Supreme Court and previous DHS Commissioner Jesson was appointed to Minnesota Court of Appeals. If you look at Minnesota judges, they are as white as vanilla and need to reflect the diversity of the state.
5. I would also encourage young minority lawyers to run for county attorneys. Currently, there are 87 county attorneys and only one (Ramsey) is a person of color. This can’t be but sadly it is.

Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee.

Idil – Autism Mom & Advocate