Running for Autism Advocacy

This April, during National Autism Acceptance and Appreciation Month, the Ball State Run Club has gone the extra mile—literally and figuratively—to advocate for a critical healthcare issue: access to ABA services for children with autism.

Medicaid Cuts and Caps

The runners were aware of the devastating funding changes that have been enacted by Medicaid: cutting support by 40% last year and announcing new caps to service that would limit coverage to just three years and a maximum of 30 hours per week. These cuts threaten access to vital Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for more than 6,000 children across Indiana—and could set a dangerous precedent for private insurance companies to follow. Without proper coverage, many families will lose access to the therapies that help children with autism develop critical communication, academic, and social skills.

Marathon Advocacy

Scheduled to run in the Carmel Marathon, the club members reached out to us to ask how they could use the moment as a platform for advocacy. We designed their jersey for the event and encouraged our staff to go in support.

The runners' big day was interrupted when thunderstorms forced a cancellation. But the Ball State Run Club wasn’t about to let bad weather dampen their momentum. Instead, the team suited up in their jerseys for their own awareness run on campus and proudly wore their shirts again at the Summit City Marathon here in Fort Wayne this past weekend, ensuring their message reached an even broader audience.

Running a marathon takes practice and commitment - a continual effort fueled by passion and community.

The same is true for advocacy.

When something matters, it infuses into everything we do - we talk about it continually, we educate others, we stand up for it, we vote for it.

When something matters, we don't let our pace slow.

When something matters, we do everything we can to protect it.

Our kids matter.

Advocacy is constant. It doesn't stop for rain or for budget approvals. It changes course but keeps its strength. It's no short sprint.

The Ball State Run Club seized an opportunity to stand up for a future where every child has the opportunity to succeed, where healthcare isn’t limited by arbitrary caps, and where everyone truly has a clear path forward.

Join the Race

You might not be a runner, but you can be an advocate in countless ways.

Start here on our advocacy resource page.

Contact your representatives and tell them you want autism services fully funded through Medicaid. Tell them that their decisions and actions on this issue will largely determine your next vote.

These services are critical for the success of our most vulnerable children. Because of the far reaching ripple effects of these services on our whole community, they clearly deserve to be funded through tax dollars, and we, the tax payers, deserve to be heard.

So stretch your voice and help us clear a path. We won't let up till we cross the finish line together.