News and Knowledge

Delaware families and teachers will be especially thankful this holiday season, as the Delaware General Assembly has consigned half a million dollars to pilot a statewide initiative expanding clinical and educational resources for individuals with autism.

Last month, Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed into law Senate Bill #93, establishing an Interagency Committee on Autism (ICA) and the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA). The DNEA was originally spearheaded through a series of discussions led by Autism Delaware and the University of Delaware’s Center for Disability Studies (CDS), according to a press release about the bill’s passage. The conversation was then continued among state agencies, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and family members of Delaware residents living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

“The need for the statewide resource center [and its advisory committee] came about five years ago…from the idea that we need to start with education,” noted Autism Delaware’s community outreach director Alex Eldreth in an article about the bill on the Delaware Online website. “There just aren’t [enough] resources out there.”

Data findings on the Autism Delaware website confirm Eldreth’s concerns, as the number of children enrolled in public school with an autism diagnosis has seen a dramatic increase of 895% between 1991 and 2014. In fiscal year 2014, Delaware authorized 142 private placements in which students were placed in residential programs or out-of-state facilities “because they couldn’t be served in [Delaware] schools,” more than any year in the last decade. State expenditures on education reportedly amounted to a total of $3.1 million that year, with $1.7 million allocated towards out-of-state placements and $1.4 million towards outside consultation services for individuals with ASD. Legislators are hopeful that, when matched with Senate Bill #93’s $500,000 budget, the DNEA will reduce Delaware’s annual education costs significantly.

However, the vision underlying the DNEA doesn’t end with budget reductions. The Delaware State Legislature hopes to see Delaware’s resources expanded and streamlined across schools, businesses, medical practices, and family support services.

In an article on the Delaware 105.9FM NewsTalk website, CDS director Beth Mineo elaborated on the need for expanded resources, “Enhanced training and more and better resources will boost the ability of providers and organizations to serve the community. As a result, people with autism and their families will benefit from healthcare, education, employment and community living services and supports that are more responsive to their needs.”

The projected outcomes of the DNEA are still inconclusive, as most agencies servicing the autism community tend to operate exclusive of one another and are often limited in the accessibility, proximity, flexibility, and quality of services that they offer, according to an online survey released by Autism Speaks in 2011. Still, DNEA advocates are confident that the principal objectives outlined by SB #93 can be accomplished, even on their modest budget.

Another bill, Senate Bill #92, which has not yet been approved by the Delaware House and Senate, would “increase resources [that would provide] high quality training and support for teachers and administrators [serving children with ASD],” notes Autism Delaware on its website.

Moving forward, DNEA proponents trust that the Network will increase the accessibility, integration, and expansion of current services; promote higher education outcomes; and mediate the service gaps between parents, providers, employers, and job seekers affected by autism.

“It’s just the next step on a journey to realize the vision of the statewide strategic plan for autism,” said Autism Delaware’s executive director Teresa Avery in the press release about the bill’s passage.

Katrina Kennedy, M.Ed., is a service coordinator at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She has both published and presented research relevant to child health and education issues, and continues to volunteer with non-profit organizations that provide services to the autism-affected and homeless communities. Katrina has also co-founded her own charity initiatives, including The Dorcas Knit Project, which aims to destigmatize and care for homeless children with disabilities. More recently, she has collaborated with the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Boston Public Schools to improve inclusive education practices within the BPS district.