RE: Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request—State and Local Educational Agency Recordkeeping and Reporting Under IDEA Part B [Docket No.: ED-2025-SCC-0976] Submitted via online: https://www.regulations.gov/search?filter=ED-2025-SCC-0976 Dear Mr. Santy: On behalf of the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM), we appreciate the opportunity to submit comments on the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ (OSERS) notice […]
Underfunded Special Education Has Real Consequences Public News Service | MI special-ed funding gaps linked to ‘school-to-justice’ pipeline by Chrystal Blair – Producer Jan 21, 2026 Advocates say one of the strongest predictors of whether a child ends up in Michigan’s juvenile justice system starts in underfunded special-education classrooms, where support is stretched thin. A […]
January is Social Determinants of Health Month in Michigan — and we’re lifting up how education policy is health policy. Through our Autism Alliance of Michigan strategic initiatives (https://autismallianceofmichigan.org/education-initiatives/), we co-created the Progressive Outcomes Scale Logic Model (POSLM) toward Advancing Change in Education Systems, by centering community voice at the intersection of race and disability. In partnering […]
Michigan Advance | Commentary – New year, new priorities: It’s time to fix Michigan’s special education funding by Alexandra Stamm January 13, 2026 A fresh year is the time to reflect on the one before, let go of the status quo and embrace new habits. As Michiganders set their intentions for 2026, the state Legislature […]
By: Heather Eckner, Director of Statewide Education, Autism Alliance of Michigan January 19, 2026 Hope is Not an Accident Today, the Autism Alliance of Michigan is closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I am using this pause not as a break from the work, but as a moment to reflect on […]
Autism Alliance of Michigan Public Comment State Board of Education December 9, 2025 Read here: 2025.1209 Autism Alliance Public Comment_Special Education Benchmark Report and Finance Reform Good afternoon Board members, Superintendent Maleyko, and Department staff. My name is Heather Eckner and I serve as the statewide director of education for the Autism Alliance of Michigan. […]
Findings reveal uneven access and outcomes across Michigan’s special education system and establish a baseline for long-term progress. December 3, 2025 LANSING, Mich. — The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) today released the 2025 Michigan Special Education Benchmark Report, the first statewide analysis of how Michigan’s public education system is serving students with disabilities. The […]
Special Education Day 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Publication date: December 2, 2025 Governor Whitmer proclaims December 2nd Special Education in Michigan (2025) In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). […]
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 […]
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 […]