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Committees

The ACU has several committees that address all issues facing individuals with autism and their families from birth to death.  Membership in the Council is not required to participate on any committee.  If you would like to become a member, sign up today!  (No membership fees apply.)

Each committee has different meeting schedules that range from teleconferences, regular meetings, and ad hoc meetings. Participation in a committee can be as long-term or short-term as you would like…we know that life happens!  Please look at the following brief descriptions of the committees and see where your interests and expertise are.  Contact the committee chair for more information and to participate.

The current committees are as follows:

Adult Services: Promote hiring and inclusion, job resources and placement (future topics: housing and day programs)
Chair: Tammy Mabey (wbmabeys[at]comcast.net)

Events: Promote autism awareness and events
Chairs: Amanda Patten (mandyp626[at]hotmail.com) and Amy Baker (gabbaker[at]msn.com)

Fundraising and Public Relations: Raise money to fund scholarships, programs, recognition, etc. and recognize best practices, reward agencies/organizations, and publish recognition
Chairs: Pam Winn (pamela.winn[at]comcast.net) and Tricia Casper (tricia[at]seekingsitters.com)

Government Affairs: Educate legislators, support State departments per mission statement
Chairs: Richard Watson (rjwatson[at]xmission.com) and Pam Grover (grover.pam[at]gmail.com)

Information: Communication, information, and online presence.
Chair: Liz Saling (lizabny[at]yahoo.com)

Research: Support Utah’s research efforts, evaluate, disseminate, facilitate
Chair: William McMahon (william.mcmahon[at]hsc.utah.edu)

Services and Resources: Awareness and information for parents, organizations and agencies, communication for all, update and review website, add new resources
Chair: Janet Wade (janetw[at]esgw.org)

School-Based Issues: School services throughout the State, observe and share best practices in school districts
Chairs: Susan Blackham (sblackham[at]dsdmail.net) and Amy Peters (apeters[at]weber.k12.ut.us)

Training: Educators/parent/provider training, early intervention, conferences, co-sponsorships, distributing training information
Chair: Kate Andersen (katea[at]autismjourneys.net)

Autism Council of Utah – Committee Reports – April 2011

Adult Services
The Adult Services Committee has a new committee chair – Tammy Mabey. We are excited to have Tammy at the head of this important committee. We have been exchanging information from news articles about programs, challenges and opportunities for the autism community as they age. We are working to sponsor training for parents and professionals about Autism and Aging.

Services and Resources
The services committee invites all service providers to attend to network and learn about partnership opportunities once a month at out meeting. Please email janetw(at)esgw(dot)org if you are interested in attending.

We have had several new submissions for service information to be posted to the ACU website. The website is very popular amongst service providers and parents.

ACU committee members, the Utah Personnel Development Center and Easter Seals Northern Rocky Mountain met several times in 2010 to discuss how to better inform parents of the resources and services that are available in Utah. The group developed an information card for parents highlighting Autism Speaks and the Utah Parent Center websites. This card will be distributed to school districts and pediatricians’ offices, to be given to parents with children newly diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

Events, Fundraising and PR Committees
The Events and Fundraising Committee started having combined meetings once a month on the first Tuesday. We have been discussing a number of issues, including the following:
The A.W.A.R.E. program – This program will provide a business with a link to a website with a training video on having clientele on the autism spectrum. The program will offer a training packet for their employees to go over. When businesses have completed the video, they will be given an AWARE (Autsim is Welcome and Respected Everyday) sticker they can display in their windows signifying they are autism aware and friendly. This will enable parents and caregivers confidence they are welcome in the facility.
The committee has been making an effort to promote the Autism Specialty License Plate that became available in January of this year. We have placed flyers in businesses, community centers, doctors and dentists’ offices and libraries. We are also in the process of sending a flyer home through school districts around the state. One of the committee member’s daughters also chaired a press conference at the capitol for a school project. It was covered in the newspapers and some local TV stations.
We have discussed raising money through a business social network in which one of our committee members is a member, raising money for a program for a database for children with disabilities for the police department, and hosting an April fundraiser mother/daughter luncheon is also being considered.

Schools Committee
The Schools Committee has been working on the “Schools” section of the ACU website. We are in the process of updating the information and adding a section of “Frequently Asked Questions”. Members of the committee have also visited school sites implementing best practices in their work with students with autism. We are in the process of accepting nominations for recognition during the 2011-2012 school year.

Government Affairs
The legislative session went better than we anticipated for being a hard economic year. The cuts to autism programs were backfilled with tobacco money, and the Carson Smith Scholarship got an additional $500,000 to the program. The DSPD waiting list also received some funding.
The Guardianship bill that would make it very difficult for parents to get guardianship of their disabled children did not pass, but will come back again next year probably. We will continue to work hard educating the legislators about the need for autism services and programs.

Training
The Training Committee has been communicating all training going on throughout the State, linking the information to the website and with the Utah Parent Center. We are working on an Autism and Faith follow-up program for this month.

Information
The new ACU website was launched this year and has received a lot of wonderful feedback. ACU has a real online presence now, with a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, as well as a YouTube channel and Flickr page. This greatly facilitates our communicating with the local autism community and connecting them with resources! The membership process has become more automated, and newsletters can be subscribed to directly on the website. ACU leadership regularly posts on our blog, and we can be contacted through our new ACU email accounts. Upcoming events are regularly posted on the website. We are looking for more committee members, too!

NOTE:
The ACU leadership team has implemented new processes that will make becoming a member and joining a committee easier. The application for membership in the ACU is now on the website and can be completed electronically. All committees and committee chair information is on the website as well. Please contact the chairs directly if you can help on any committee.

 
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About the Autism Council of Utah

The Autism Council of Utah is an independent council working to foster collaboration, communication, and learning among families and agencies. Our aim is to promote access to resources and responsible information for individuals of all ages who have, or are affected by autism, or related conditions.