Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
Laura L. Garrett MSN, FNP-C

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating
Council
Summary Layout

Item 1
Item 2

Identification and Description of the Alabama

Interagency Autism Coordinating Council: History
and Strategic Plan
Description of Experiences and Interaction with
Mentor

Item 3

Purpose of the Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council: Purpose, Duties, and Authority

Item 4

Processes Used by the Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council to Promulgate its Purpose

Item 5

Discussion of Opportunities for the General Public to

Interact and Influence Autism Public Health Policy

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
Identification and Description

This PowerPoint is in partial fulfillment of a project

for NUR 740 at the University of Alabama in
Huntsville.

As the name implies, the AIACC coordinates the

many agencies in Alabama which work to
advocate for and implement progress and policies
for those with ASD and their families.

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council

Having an Impact on State Health Policy

History of AIACC
In 2007 Representative Cam Ward and Lieutenant
Governor Jim Folsom formed the Alabama Autism
Task Force (AATF) to evaluate the state response to
the increasing incidence of Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD).
The AATF was comprised of 27 appointed
members, including:
advocates,
state officials,
educators,
physicians, and
members of the academic community (AIACC,

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
History Continued

Representative Ward and Lt. Governor Folsom

served as chairmen for the AATF. Autism Spectrum
Disorder is a personal issue to both of the men.
Rep. Ward is a parent to a child with ASD.

A state needs assessment was conducted between

September 2007 and May 2008 with grant money
provided by the Alabama Council for
Developmental Disabilities.

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
History Continued

The AATF was organized into eight subcommittees

in order to thoroughly review data received from
the Alabama Autism Needs Assessment. The
subcommittees included:
Diagnosis and early screening,
Intervention services (ages 0-5),
Intervention services (ages 5-21),
Intervention services (adult),
Health care,
Ad Hoc (Regional Center Development)
Systems of Care (SOC), and
Financial impact (AIACC, 2014).

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
History Continued

The AATF was dissolved in 2009

and the Alabama Interagency
Autism Coordinating Council
(AIACC) was formed to carry out
the work of the AATF and find
solutions to the issues discovered
during the needs assessment.
The AIACC membership is made
up of Governor appointed
members, including a Senate
appointee and a House appointee,
and representatives of a variety of
state agencies that deal with the
care of those with ASD.

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan

Identification of barriers, such as duplicative or

fragmented policies which may require
modification;
Development of a coordinated program of services;
Implement a comprehensive fiscal review, analysis,
and recommendations for state spending on
programs and services for ASD; and
Identification of annual action steps toward
implementation (AIACC, 2014, p. 6).

Description of Experiences and

Interaction with Mentor
Personal Interactions and Experiences

Personal interactions consisted of emails, exchanges of

information, and face-to-face meetings with my mentors
Bama Folsom Hager , PhD and Anna McConnell, LCSW, MPH.
Bama Folsom Hager is mother to a son with ASD. She is CoChairperson of AIACC and policy, advocacy. and community
advisor for Autism Society of Alabama (ASA). Being from a
political family Ms. Folsom-Hager has been able to use her
experiences and family background to advance community
awareness and policy issues in regards to ASD.
Anna McConnell is State Autism Coordinator for AIACC. She
has an extensive background in working with policymakers
and legislators and has brought her experience and skills to
work for AIACC.

Alabama Interagency Autism

Coordinating Council
Purpose

The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating

Council was created to carry out the work of the
AATF which dissolved in 2009.
The AIACC is charged with meeting the urgent and
substantial need to develop a statewide,
comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary,
interagency system of care (SOC) for individuals
with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their
families (AIACC, 2014).

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill
Purpose
Processes Used by the Alabama Interagency Autism
Coordinating Council to Promulgate its Purpose

The processes used by the Alabama Interagency

Autism Coordinating Council to promulgate its
purpose of developing the system of care (SOC)
are:
Political Leadership, Professional Partnerships,
and Collaboration
Public Awareness
Funding
Accountability

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose

Political Leadership, Professional Partnerships, and

Collaboration
Develop and maintain a relationship
with the Governors office and
legislature and establishment of an
avenue of communication amongst the
AIACC Executive Committee and the
legislature.
Cultivate professional and research
partnerships; develop talking points for
recruitment; and recruit partnership
leaders, agencies, organizations,
stakeholders, and researchers.
Create and maintain collaborative
relationships between people living
with ASD and their families and those

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose

Political Leadership: AIACC legislative review

Act 298 Autism Insurance Reform
Act.
Act 298 was very controversial because
the initial bill 298 (The Riley Ward
Insurance Reform Act of 2012) named
after Rep. Cam Wards son was amended
beyond what certain agencies, such as
Autism Speaks (who pulled their support
of the bill), aim to achieve for individual
states. It only allows for Board Certified
Behavioral Analysts (BCBA) to be
reimbursed for certain therapies,but
there is no licensing method for BCBAs
in Alabama. Link to view Act 298 http://
www.aldoi.gov/PDF/Legal/SB0283%20AC
T12-0298.pdf

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose

Political Leadership: AIACC legislative review

Still Just a Bill

SB305 proposed to create a BCBA
licensing method, so BCBA
providers can be reimbursed for the
therapies detailed in Act 298. SB
305 was not passed but is expected
to be reintroduced later in 2014.
SB 373 proposed to allow persons
with ASD to have it displayed on
their drivers licenses. SB 373 was
not passed in 2013 but is expected
to be reintroduced later in 2014.

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose
Political Leadership: Legislative Day

AIACC supports Alabamas Annual Legislative Day

which is usually in March every year and allows
people to discuss autism legislation, meet with
families impacted by ASD, meet with legislators,
and tell personal stories of life with ASD. Legislative
Day is a great opportunity for the general public to
get involved, gain better insight into ASD the
impact it has on families, and meet legislators

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose

Public Awareness-Implement awareness campaigns

Act Early Campaign
AIACC modified CDC materials Learn the Signs. Act
Early and used public service announcements in
order to get information to caregivers, early
intervention professionals, pediatricians, and other
primary care professionals to promote early
diagnosis and early intervention of ASD (CDC, 2011).

Alabama Lifespan Resource Tree

and Online Directory
An online directory of resources
so those living with ASD and their
families can more easily contact
and gain much needed
information and resources.

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose
Public Awareness Continued

AIACC is involved in increasing public awareness in

many ways, including:
distributing learning materials regarding ASD to
schools, provider offices, and affiliates,
support of autism awareness and fund raising
walks,
support of creation of autism awareness month in
Alabama,
support of online autism resource directory,
development of a community-based awareness
campaign called Autism Friendly,
development of regional autism centers to better
serve the many regions throughout Alabama

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose
Funding

Identify
funding
opportunities
for the AIACC

Support the
Alabama
Autism
Coordinator in
the
development
of grant
funding

Invite private
funding for
the support
of AIACC
goals

Processes used by the AIACC to

Fulfill Purpose
Accountability

Through accountability AIACC maintains high integrity and

support of evidence-based practices which is a beneficial
process to fulfilling their purpose. When an organization
maintains accountability it is easier to recruit partnerships,
obtain funding, and gain the interest of legislators. AIACC
supports evidence-based, high-quality, cost-effective models
and best practices that provide supports to persons with ASD
and their families (AIACC, 2014).

Opportunities for the General Public

to Interact and Influence Autism
Public Health Policy

There are many ways that the general public can get
involved

The general public is invited and welcome at the annual

Autism Legislative Day which allows one to interact with people
with ASD and their families, hear their stories, and interact with
state leaders and legislators.
There are over 15 autism walks scheduled, through the month
of April in Alabama, to raise awareness and funding. Anyone can
participate.
Get involved during Aprils autism
awareness activities to bring awareness
to friends, neighbors, colleagues, such
as light it up blue (use blue light bulbs
in your outdoor light fixtures).
Write emails or letters to your state
representatives regarding autism
funding and legislation

References:
Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council. (2014). Annual Report 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Partner spotlight-Alabama. Retrieved
from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/partners/spotlight-archives/spotlight_alabama.html
Mulvihill, B.A. (2011). Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council: Strategic Plan.
http://autism.alabama.gov/Documents/AIACC_Strategic_Plan.pdf