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2. Moving from Louisiana to Connecticut Louisiana Medicaid waiver for ASD In home services School Services Connecticut Full Inclusion here OT & Speech Best Practices Services Silo Discouraged by organizations where our family was looking for help 2

3. 3 CAAC History Children’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council Subcommittee FAVOR’s Strategic Planning included Autism Goals Several employees' had children with ASD Many briefs and cases were about ASD Provide a Unified Voice to the Legislature Need to work together

4. 4 About CAAC Brings together: family organizations community providers state agencies Works together to: organize and host Autism Awareness Day at the Capitol support numerous state agencies and community providers attend trainings participate on task force and advisory councils, and more. Identify gaps in the system and find ways to fill them! Supported by: FAVOR, a statewide family support organization, provides organizational and fiduciary support to CAAC.

5. 5 MISSION STATEMENT To provide one unified voice, supporting CT in the development and improvement of service access and quality for all individuals who are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. VISION STATEMENT A world in which Autism, is so clearly understood, that it is seen as a character trait not a disability, allowing the talents and strengths of an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorders, to be identified, utilized and embraced by the community in which they live.

6. 6 CAAC Some of our Members Autism Center at HSC Autism Speaks Autism Services & Resources Connecticut (ASRC) Behavioral Compass Group, LLC CT Bureau of Special Education CT Center for Child Development (CCCD) CT Children’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council(CBHAC) CT Department of Developmental Services (DDS) CT Department of Public Health (DPH) CT Families for Effective Autism Treatment (CT FEAT) CT Family Support Network (CTFSN) CT Special Education PTO Alliance (SEPTO) Family-to-Family Health Information Farmington Valley Asperger’s Network (FAVAN) FAVOR—Statewide Family Advocacy FOCUS Center for Autism Friends of Autistic People (FAP) Helping Hands CT The Litchfield County Autism Spectrum Association (LACASA) The Kennedy Center Inc. Lighthouse Psycho-educational Services North Central Community Collaborative (NCCC) North Star Support Group PATH Parent to Parent/Family Voices CT Roses for Autism/UCONN Sacred Heart University University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)

7. 7 CT Collaborative for ASD: Project Manager Role Coordinate the CT Collaborative for ASD (State Implementation Grant for Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Developmental Disabilities and the CT Medical Home Initiative) Organize contract to five family and provider organizations Collect and aggregate reports Provide technical assistance to contractors, intermediary between grantees and DPH to work towards grant goals Link to community partners Participate at national grantee meeting and CAAI National Meeting in Washington, DC

8. 8 Autism Awareness Day at the Capital Annual event during Autism Awareness Month Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, Representatives, Senators (several have relatives on the spectrum) Parents, advocacy groups, providers, state agencies, educators, anyone who works with or loves individual(s) with autism Attendance and participation has grown every year as has the number of CAAC Resource bags handed out by young adults on the spectrum