Hosted by Candace Cunningham, Candace’s Corner podcast series invites leaders across our state to talk about key issues affecting the disability community.
This season, Candace explores the history of the developmental disabilities system in Missouri.
Episode Details
Candace talks with Tec Chapman. Chapman is the executive vice president and chief program officer at Easterseals Midwest. A disability rights leader with more than 35 years of experience supporting people with disabilities and their families.
He previously served as executive director of Services for Independent Living and deputy director of the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities. In these roles, he helped shape state and federal disability policy.
Discussion Topics
- How the Missouri Autism Project first got started
- Why families pushed for change in 1991
- The service gaps families were facing at the time
- How grassroots advocacy shaped early autism services
- What changed after Missouri created rules for the Missouri Autism Projects
- Major system changes during the last 30 years
- The power of individuals and families to create lasting system change
Glossary and Resources
Terms Used in this Episode
- Family Advocacy — when families speak up to improve services and supports. Because of family advocacy, Missouri has created stronger autism supports that continue today because families helped:
- Find gaps in autism services
- Work with lawmakers and state leaders
- Push for rules and funding
- Shape how services were delivered
- Grassroots advocacy — advocacy efforts that influence change and starts with individuals and families in the community. It looks like:
- Sharing lived experiences
- Organizing together
- Speaking directly to decision-makers
- Pushing for meaningful improvements
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA) — a federal U.S. law that makes sure students with disabilities get the support and services they need in school. IDEA makes sure that students with disabilities:
- Can go to free public school
- Get an education that meets their unique needs
- Receive services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or special education support
- Learn in the least restrictive environment (with peers without disabilities as much as possible)
- System change — improving how services are designed, funded, and delivered. System change happens when individuals and families work together with leaders to improve policies and services. In Missouri, system change has included:
- Creating formal rules for Autism Projects in 1991
- Expanding autism services across the state
- Increasing focus on individualized supports
- Strengthening collaboration between families and providers
Organizations
- Easterseals Midwest helps people with disabilities and their families live good, full lives. They make sure people get the support they need at home, at school, at work, and in their communities.
- The Missouri Autism Projects began in 1991 as a pilot program serving 49 counties in Mid-Missouri. Families and self-advocates spoke up because there were not enough services for people with autism. Their advocacy helped create structured autism services within Missouri’s Developmental Disability system. This project helped:
- Improve access to autism-specific services
- Create clearer rules and expectations
- Strengthen support for families
- Influence long-term system improvements across the state
The WeSaid at the UCEDD is a Training and Technical Assistance Center that gives people with developmental disabilities opportunities to speak up, lead and teach others.
