About SMAC
The Southern Minnesota Autism Coalition formed in the spring of 2009 as a way to promote education, understanding, support and acceptance for those with Autism, their families and those who work with them. SMAC hosts an annual WALKdo for Autism Awareness in early October, but Coalition members hope to draw attention to Autism and its issues in the nine-county region every day of the year.
In Region Nine, there are 498 school children on the Autism Spectrum (based on end-of-year figures for 2008). In the Mankato Area Public Schools alone, there are 155 students with that educational diagnosis – and the numbers continue to grow. Now, those school children are not the only individuals in the region with Autism – they are simply the ones that are easily counted.
It was those rapidly growing numbers that prompted a group of parents, educators and Autism coordinators from the region to plan the inaugural WALKdo in October 2008. After more than 350 walkers turned out and nearly $12,000 was raised to fund a visit to Mankato by social thinking guru Michelle Garcia Winner, organizers were buoyed and decided to create the non-profit Coalition for ongoing awareness activities.
SMAC Board Members
Becky Fredericks - Chair
Parent
Becky is a Cake Decorator/Baker and Mother of twin boys -10 years old, both with High Functioning Autism. Becky joined the original WALKdo meetings because she was looking for a way to help the... read more
AnnMarie Birkmaier - Treasurer
Parent
AnnMarie works as a Technical Project Manager with FPX LLC in Mankato. She is the mother of three boys, ages 3, 5, and 8. AnnMarie joined SMAC because her oldest son has Asperger’s and she... read more
Anthony Ticknor - Technology Adviser
Technology Consultant & Parent
As Technology Adviser, Anthony brings more than ten years of web design and front end development experience to the Southern Minnesota Autism Coalition. His thirst for knowledge and desire to... read more
Megan Weerts - Past Chair
Autism Teacher at Monroe Elementary
Megan has participated in autism events, walks and other activities in the past, however, she felt they didn’t directly benefit the students she worked with. In 2008, she was part of the group... read more