Access to Education for Michael

Hi, we are Erin & Steve and we're fundraising for our son, Michael, who was born with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Michael is now 10 years old and we are in the fight of our lives to obtain what is legally known as a "Free and Appropriate Public Education" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Michael is currently in the 4th grade. We recently retained a special education attorney to advocate for Michael's right to an education.

To provide some background, Michael underwent 3 years of evaluations from ages 2-5 (prompted by his expulsion from several daycares and preschools for behaviors related to sensory issues). Finally, in March 2018, Michael was identified as autistic. The last 5 years have been a huge learning curve for us as parents to a neurodivergent child. The challenges are many. For our son and for us as his caregivers.

One thing that should not be a challenge is securing our child's right to a public education. After exhausting all the alternatives, we decided to hire a lawyer to fight for the supports Michael needs in school in order to access general education.

If you are able, we greatly appreciate your support for Michael in this fight to secure autism supports for him in school. Please feel free to reach out if you'd like to know more about Michael's story.

With hope and gratitude,

Erin & Steve