AAoM and MiPAAC — Honoring the Legacy and Impact of IDEA at 50

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

AAoM and MiPAAC — Honoring the Legacy and Impact of IDEA at 50 November 29, 2025 Today marks 50 years since President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act — the landmark law that later became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).   A Legacy We Must Protect and Strengthen  Before […]

Autism Alliance submits public comments on Michigan’s Waiver Request to Exceed 1% Cap on Alternate Assessment in 2025-26

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

Advocacy in Action: holding systems accountable 2025.1128 AAoM Public Comment on Michigan One Percent Alternate Assessment Waiver AAoM submitted public comments via the Online Survey link provided on the MDE site (1% Participation Cap on Alternate Assessment: Information and Justification Forms), per its stated process. AAoM also submitted our organization’s comments via email (MDE-OSE-Public-Comment@Michigan.gov ) as […]

A Call to Action — Celebrating IDEA’s 50th Anniversary by Driving Change

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

A Call to Action — Celebrating IDEA’s 50th Anniversary by Driving Change This is post #5 in the MiPAAC: Reimagining Special Education Series Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy? Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac November 28, 2025 This year marks 50 years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — a […]

From Awareness to Action — How Families, Advocates, and Educators Can Drive Change Together

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

From Awareness to Action — How Families, Advocates, and Educators Can Drive Change Together This is post #4 in the MiPAAC: Reimagining Special Education Series Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy? Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac November 27, 2025 Over the past few posts, we’ve explored why good intentions aren’t enough, why […]

What Effective Systems Change Looks Like — and How Michigan Can Get There

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

What Effective Systems Change Looks Like — and How Michigan Can Get There This is post #3 in the MiPAAC: Reimagining Special Education Series Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy? Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac November 26, 2025 In our last post, we explored why support alone isn’t enough in special education. […]

Why Systems Change — and What Makes It Effective

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

Why Systems Change — and What Makes It Effective This is post #2 in the MiPAAC: Reimagining Special Education Series Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy? Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac November 25, 2025 In yesterday’s post, we shared why true allyship in special education requires more than good intentions — it […]

Effective Allies in Special Education Don’t Just Offer Support — They Change Systems

By Heather Eckner | November 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

Effective Allies in Special Education Don’t Just Offer Support — They Change Systems This is our first post in the MiPAAC: Reimagining Special Education Series Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy? Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac November 24, 2025 In school systems, we often talk about “supporting families,” “helping students,” and “advocating […]

Autism Alliance of Michigan presents Public Comment on National Assessment Governing Board Committee and Quarterly Board Meeting (Nov 2025)

By Heather Eckner | November 18, 2025 | Comments Off on Autism Alliance of Michigan presents Public Comment on National Assessment Governing Board Committee and Quarterly Board Meeting (Nov 2025)

Autism Alliance of Michigan Public Comment Angela Scott, Chief Data Officer: National Assessment Governing Board Submitted via email: Angela.Scott@ed.gov November 13, 2025 Read here: Autism Alliance of Michigan Makes Public Comment on NAEP Agenda for November Meeting RE: Public Comment on National Assessment Governing Board Committee and Quarterly Board Meetings (Federal Register Document 2025–19704) Dear Ms. […]

MiPAAC @ 5 Years: Advocacy in Action

By Heather Eckner | October 31, 2025 | Comments Off on MiPAAC @ 5 Years: Advocacy in Action

Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy? Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac This month marks five years since the Michigan Parent, Advocate & Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC) was founded—five years of building community, amplifying voices, and advancing systems change to ensure equitable education for all students with disabilities across Michigan. What began as a […]

Michigan Unveils Blueprint for to Build a Fair, Student-Centered Special Education Funding System

By Heather Eckner | October 31, 2025 | Comments Off on Michigan Unveils Blueprint for to Build a Fair, Student-Centered Special Education Funding System

Developed under legislative direction, the Michigan Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint offers a Michigan-made roadmap for fair, transparent, and needs-based funding that better supports students with disabilities. LANSING, Mich. — October 30, 2025. Michigan’s special education system has long been underfunded and inequitable, leaving students with disabilities and their schools without the resources they need. […]