We are pleased to announce that Daren Howard has been named Interim Executive Director of the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM). Howard has served as Deputy Director alongside Ellie Wilson for the last four years, and is the first openly autistic person named to the role in AuSM’s 55-year history.
Nearly ten years ago, emboldened and inspired by community and mission, I accepted the role of Executive Director at the Autism Society of Minnesota. I was simultaneously intimidated and proud. In that tender and early phase of my career, I did not have a precise or mechanical vision for…
On Tuesday, January 13, Minnesota Public Radio shared a story on its social media page showing video of a woman in visible distress as she was pulled from her car, cut from her seatbelt, tackled forcefully, and carried to an unmarked vehicle by four masked ICE agents in South Minneapolis.
The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) is deeply concerned by recent revelations of fraud within Minnesota’s publicly funded disability services system. These actions represent not only a misuse of public resources but a direct harm to people with disabilities who rely on these services to live full, self-directed lives in…
What began with a shared Minnesota Public Radio interview about water safety more than a year ago has grown into a meaningful partnership between AuSM and V3 Sports Center in North Minneapolis. V3 is a vibrant community hub with accessible swimming facilities and a mission rooted in whole-community…
The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) joins the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Autism Society of America (ASA), and other national partners in raising deep concern about recent changes to the CDC’s website that imply uncertainty about the well-established scientific consensus on autism and vaccines. Public institutions have a…
Show your camp spirit year-round with brand-new designs in AuSM’s merch store! Whether you’ve been a camper, counselor, or supporter, these shirts, hoodies, and apparel let you celebrate your love for the best week of the year. Each design is inspired by the joy, friendship, and…
For more than 50 years, the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) has been here for you: providing mental health therapy tailored to autistic experience, offering summer camps where kids and adults can belong and thrive, advocating at the Capitol, and equipping families, educators, and professionals with tools to…
The Autism Society of Minnesota is deeply concerned by statements made at yesterday’s White House event on autism, where unsubstantiated claims were presented as the “cause” of autism and harmful language was used to describe autistic people. Autism is a diverse, lifelong disability shaped by a complex interaction of genetic,…
In 2025, AuSM was selected by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Disability Services Division, to expand our equity-focused work supporting families of autistic children. With this support, AuSM is building Pathways for BIPOC Families, a new initiative designed to reduce cultural barriers and ensure that families in…