Are you a parent, advocate, or attorney dedicated to student-centered advocacy?
Join MiPAAC! mipaac.org/join-mipaac
This month marks the 4th anniversary of the Michigan Parent, Advocate & Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC), powered by the Autism Alliance of Michigan. Over the past four years, MiPAAC has grown into a robust statewide network of over 300 members, each dedicated to ensuring that students with disabilities receive the education and support they deserve.
A driving force in Michigan.
Since its inception, MiPAAC has been a driving force in Michigan, bringing together parents, advocates, and attorneys to create a unified voice for special education advocacy. Through workshops, forums, and direct advocacy, MiPAAC has educated and empowered families to navigate the complexities of the special education system. Our members have collaborated to influence policy changes, raise awareness, and build a stronger community of support for students across the state.
Advocacy with impact.
One impactful story comes from Wendy, a parent of Nicola, who shared the struggles her family faced and how the Autism Alliance of Michigan made a difference:
“When Nicola was just 7, her education environment was a closet with a paraprofessional because she was too disruptive in the classroom.
Our under-resourced school district was clueless about how to support her. I put my career on hold for years because her days and mine were filled with appointments, therapies, and early school dismissals for uncontrollable behavior. And, of course, nothing was covered by insurance.
Not only did [the Autism Alliance] guide us through two major crises with Nicola, but they also provided the special education support she needed to thrive. With their help, she was able to complete her high school journey with an incredible team at Seaholm High School. Despite facing significant other challenges, Nicola is now living on a residential campus at the Eisenhower Center in Ann Arbor. In fact, Eisenhower is being highlighted at the AAoM housing symposium next week.”
MiPAAC serves a critical need.
MiPAAC was born out of a critical need to bridge gaps in the special education system. By 2020, it was evident to AAoM that more collective action was needed specifically to tackle the inequities in special education. That’s when MiPAAC was created—to bring together parents, advocates, and legal experts who were passionate about reforming the educational landscape for students with disabilities across the state.
MiPAAC’s aim is to amplify the voices of those who are often left unheard in policymaking. It has created a space where members focused on student-centered advocacy work side by side to challenge barriers, influence legislation, and push for systemic change.
For Heather Eckner, Director of Statewide Education at the Autism Alliance of Michigan, Wendy’s story connects on a personal level and emphasizes the importance of “always knowing your WHY” in this transformative work:
“Always know your WHY. This is it. Being able to engage in transformative work that has impact on a population scale is mine. It’s what drives me to continue to be a positive disruption to systems that discount, exclude, and push out those who are our most vulnerable. And yet, they are also those with some of the greatest potential to engage as positive forces in our communities. Since becoming an educator more than 20 years ago and then the parent of an autistic child almost 16 years ago, I’ve operated under the mantra—if something is worth me advocating for my own child to have access to and benefit from, then it’s worth me advocating for all the children. Our strength is in our shared aims. Let’s keep lighting those fires to disrupt barriers by bridging & building our advocacy power TOGETHER!“
MiPAAC and the power of collective action.
Reflecting on the journey, the progress we’ve made is a testament to the power of collective action. Together, we have tackled challenges, shared our stories, and amplified the voices of those who too often go unheard. MiPAAC has provided a platform where every member’s experience is valued, and where we work together toward common goals: equity, inclusion, and the advancement of rights for all students.
Join us in growing our impact!
We are currently over 300 members strong, and our goal is to grow to 400 members by the end of 2024 to celebrate our 4th anniversary in a big way. If you are passionate about advocating for students with disabilities and want to be part of a community that is creating real change, we invite you to join MiPAAC today. http://mipaac.org/join-mipaac/
Our Dyslexic Children Michigan as a proud member of the MiPAAC coalition, I fully support its focus on ensuring strong reading and literacy supports for all children with disabilities and supportive special education needs. Every child deserves access to the resources and instruction they need to succeed, regardless of their challenges. Together, we are advocating for positive changes that can truly make a difference in students’ lives.