Tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Somali Parents Autism Network, MN Legislators and community members will address the recent tragic drownings and urgent safety measures for children with autism, specifically Somali American children in Minnesota.
In response to two recent tragedies within Minnesota’s Somali-American community, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Minnesota (CAIR-MN) and the Somali Parents Autism Network (SPAN), along with legislators will host a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol to announce critical next steps in advocating for enhanced safety measures and resources for children with autism. This event follows a morning emergency meeting convened to discuss urgent strategies to protect vulnerable children and address disparities in autism diagnosis and support within the Somali-American community.
These recent incidents include the heartbreaking loss of Mohamed Mohamed, an 11-year-old boy who drowned a weekend ago, just four months after a similar tragedy involving 4-year-old Weis Mohamed in June 2024. These losses highlight an urgent need to address safety for children with autism, who may face increased risks around water and in other potentially hazardous situations.
Video: CAIR-MN and Somali Community Mourn Loss of 11-Year-Old Autistic Boy in Tragic Drowning
WHAT: Press Conference on Safety Measures and Resources for Children with Autism in Minnesota
WHEN: Tomorrow, October 29, 1 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Press Conference Room B971, Press Conference, Capitol
CONTACT: CAIR-MN Director of Advocacy Osman Ahmed, 612-459-0334, o-ahmed@cair.com or Executive Director Jaylani Hussein, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com
The press conference will outline community action plans resulting from the emergency meeting, which brought together a broad coalition, including local autism advocacy groups, state-elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders. This collective aims to develop immediate and long-term strategies to support and protect children with autism and to bridge gaps in autism diagnosis and intervention among Somali-American children, who face a higher rate of autism diagnosis (1 in 16) yet are often identified later than their peers.
SEE: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network
CAIR-MN’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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