MDDC Welcomes New Council Member Asha Abdullahi

BOSTON — Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council Welcomes New Member Asha Abdullahi

Boston, MA (November 2021) –Governor Charles D. Baker has appointed Asha Abdullahi as a citizen member of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council.

Asha’s journey in serving Somali immigrants, many of whom are refugees, began several years ago when she arrived in this country and witnessed first-hand the significant challenges faced by Somali families, including her own.  After helping her parents find resources and services for her brother who suffered from PTSD, Asha faced challenges with her toddler son who was diagnosed with Autism. She was able to secure appropriate services for her son and brother, but this is not the case for many Somali families

As refugees, Somali families face racial and religious discrimination for the first-time. Somali adolescents are at risk for mental health challenges due to acculturative stress and new family dynamics in the U.S. (e.g., children speak English, but parents do not).  Many Somali families wait to seek medical diagnosis or to access services for their children due to cultural perceptions of certain conditions as taboo and stigmatizing.

Asha resolved to help Somali families so that their outcomes could be positive, and their children could thrive.  In 2017, she attended the DD Council supported advocacy training through the Federation for Children with Special Needs, which advanced her understanding of the special education process and afforded her the opportunity to effectively advocate for parents. She also

Enrolled as a Diversity Fellow in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program through Boston Children’s Hospital/Institute for Community Inclusion. Asha participated in an inter-disciplinary cohort valuing cultural competence and family-centered care, attended conferences in the disability community regarding education and advocacy, and created outreach materials for the Somali families.

Asha’s work has led to partnerships with myriad agencies and starting SPACE, a non-profit working with Somali families grappling with mental health and disabilities. Among the services SPACE provides, is working with families to get early diagnosis, connecting them to resources to improve their child’s outcomes such as mental health agencies, and interpreting documents for Somali families who have children with special needs. In addition, their biggest work has been educating families about disabilities and reducing stigma. SPACE works to improve communication between parents and school administrators, special education teachers, and health providers for building healthy relationships among families and schools.

“Asha’s tireless efforts on behalf of people with disabilities are why she is perfect for the Council”, said Daniel Shannon, MDDC Executive Director.  “Her connection with and dedication to the Somali community will be invaluable toward improving the Council’s work.”

About the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council – The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) is an independent agency funded by the federal government to work with the state of Massachusetts to better support people with developmental disabilities and their families.  MDDC’s mission is to help people with developmental disabilities have opportunities to lead successful lives in their communities; by supporting inclusive education, greater employment opportunities, and the right to make choices about where, with whom, and how they live.

For more information contact Adelia DelTrecco at adelia.deltrecco@mass.gov

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