Please Join Us!
April 5th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EDT
Register in Advance HERE.
Event to be live-streamed on the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism’s social media platforms
Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) invites you to this 17th annual Autism Advocacy Day event. We are excited to hear from Massachusetts legislators, autism self-advocates, and families as we come together to discuss the current state of affairs and highlight priority legislative proposals that would restore and increase access to services, education, and training.
We are excited to honor Representative Sean Garballey, our 2022 Legislator of the Year
Representative Garballey has been in the legislature since 2008, he is the Chairman of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, and he represents the 23rd Middlesex District.AFAM is grateful for Rep Garballey’s long-time dedication to the autism community. He is the lead sponsor on multiple bills that AFAM supports, including a bill to strengthen the Abuser Registry (Nicky’s Law). He is the sponsor of our top healthcare/hospital training bill, our higher education bill, and the disability commission legislation. The Representative has been instrumental in budget advocacy, especially Turning 22.
During this session, he was the chief sponsor and successful in passing An Act providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave, as well as An Act to promote student nutrition, which ends the practice of meal debt shaming and will provide access to lunch for 10,000 additional students in low-income communities.
He is a cosponsor of many other important bills and is the “go-to” legislator for helping individuals with autism and their families in his district and across the Commonwealth.
We are fortunate for his service and commitment to our community.
Agenda
10:00 Program begins
Welcome
Michael Borr
AFAM Chairman
Emcees
Heather Hegedus
Boston 25 News Anchor
Gyasi Burks-Abbott
Self Advocate
Autism Advocacy Month Proclamation
Governor Charlie Baker
My Mother’s Apprentice
Gyasi Burks-Abbott
Self-Advocate
Special Message
Speaker Ronald Mariano
Distinguished Legislator of the Year
Representative Sean Garballey
Song written and performed by
Daniel P. Webber
Self Advocate
How Workforce Shortages Impact Services and Access
John Randall
President and CEO
Amego, Inc.
Turning 22. No Programs or Staff
One Mother’s Journey for her Priority One Son
Tina Dean
Parent
When Mental Health and Autism Collide
Jennifer Drohan
Parent
Budgetary and Legislative updates/Virtual Call to Action
Maura Sullivan
Director Government Affairs
AFAM and The Arc of Massachusetts
Acknowledgements
Michael Borr
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
Please register in advance HERE.