Author

Estelle Slootmaker

Estelle Slootmaker's Latest Articles

Expert presenters share evidence-based information traversing the lifespan from early intervention and initial diagnosis to quality of life for older autistic adults.
Navigating Autism Today Conference connects autism community to facts, friendships, and resources

The Autism Alliance of Michigan Navigating Autism Today (NAT) Conference connects autistic people of all ages and their loved ones with education, resources, and community.

Autism can be a very isolating. AAoM shares and hosts events that are relevant to the autism community.
Welcome Kit helps Michiganders navigate autism resources and support

AAoM Welcome Kits provide a broad yet concise overview of AAoM’s roster of services. Available in two versions — one for families raising autistic children and autistic adults and another for professionals serving the autistic clients — Welcome Kits extend a warm handshake that welcomes them to AAoM’s services.

Robert Sheehan
Michigan’s community mental health agencies will do even more good work in 2025

Federal dollars, state initiatives, community partnerships, and a normalization of seeking and receiving behavioral health care have positioned Michigan’s community mental health agencies to do even more good work in 2025.

A gathering for Michigan State University's Generations Connect program, which matches MSU undergraduate students with elders in the community, at the East Lansing Public Library.
Michigan universities join global “age-friendly” movement, making campuses more welcoming to elders

As Michigan prepares for rapid growth in its population of older adults, three Michigan universities have joined a global movement to make higher education institutions more "age-friendly."

The students currently taking U-M School of Public Health course, Chatgpt/AI and Public Health.
Public health and AI: Great potential and a need for ethical policies

When applying AI to public health, great potentials exist for swifter, nimbler care and pin-pointed personalization. Its use also could exacerbate biases and the misuse of private information.  

Elisabeth Berry and James D'Arcy
Legacy Society will sustain Autism Alliance of Michigan’s work for decades to come

AAoM is establishing its Legacy Society to recognize donors today for gifts that will provide dollars in perpetuity.

Care Model Training recipients Dinora Quintanilla (far left) and Kim Poplaski (far right) with Care Model Training facilitator Vanessa Jimenez (center).
New training helps Kent County providers better connect residents in need to resources

Health Net of West Michigan's new Care Model Training provides frontline navigators with tools and tactics to better help residents access health care and social services.

K-Connect's data dashboard for Kent County.
Local health statistics are a click away as community health dashboards proliferate in Michigan

Community health dashboards are readily available online resources that compile various health data for different regions.

Jae Gerhart, manager of farm programs for Trinity Health Ann Arbor, at The Farm at Trinity Health in Ypsilanti. The Farm offers a produce prescription program for those who struggle to afford healthy food.
Medicaid funding could expand and sustain Michigan’s produce prescription programs

Michigan is seeking approval for a new funding structure that could use Medicaid dollars to pay for programs that offer "prescriptions" for free fresh fruits and vegetables.

Parents indicated that needed services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, and paraprofessional support were inadequate.
Survey activates education advocacy for Michigan children with disabilities

Special Education Experience (SEE) survey results revealed that needed improvements in special education that the state identified in 2014 have not been made.  

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