Weekly Edition - 3.11.25

🌎️ The Turin Winter Games' touching Champions ceremony demonstrates true inclusion, while a successful Michigan entrepreneur with disabilities mentors the next generation. Plus, the CDC launches their significant vaccine-autism study that families have anticipated, and Vanderbilt unveils an innovative driving simulator giving people with autism newfound independence.

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The Big Idea

This week’s featured story: a closer look at developments making waves in the I/DD community

🧪 Science takes a detour. The CDC is planning a new study examining potential links between vaccines and autism, despite decades of scientific research that has repeatedly disproven such connections. This development comes during one of the largest measles outbreaks in recent years, with over 200 cases and two deaths reported in Texas and New Mexico.

For the I/DD community, this study represents a concerning shift in public health messaging. The mere existence of such a government-sponsored investigation could validate unfounded fears about vaccines, potentially leading to further decreases in vaccination rates. Parents and caregivers who rely on evidence-based medical information may now face additional confusion when making healthcare decisions for children with developmental disabilities.

The timing is particularly troubling as it coincides with declining vaccination rates and statements from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has historically questioned vaccine safety. This creates a challenging environment for families in the disability community who already navigate complex healthcare decisions and who may be more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.

If you would like to read more, check out the original article here.

Moments That Matter

Celebrating the everyday victories, breakthrough achievements, and inspiring individuals

♻️ Bottles become opportunities. For over a decade, Tyler Laviolette, a 32-year-old entrepreneur with autism and cerebral palsy has transformed Michigan's bottle return system into a profitable business model. Customers schedule pickups online, set out their containers, and Tyler handles the rest—splitting proceeds 50/50 in a win-win arrangement that serves individuals, corporations, and community organizations alike.

The real story isn't just about bottles—it's about breaking barriers. Tyler has mentored more than 20 people with disabilities who now run their own bottle services, creating a network of independent entrepreneurs. "At first it was very rewarding because people were using his service to help this young guy out," his mother Rhonda explains, "and now almost 12 years later, it's very much a viable business." Tyler's message resonates with determined simplicity: "You can do it, there's nothing really stopping you." His journey from a struggling young man to successful business owner and mentor demonstrates how disability doesn't define potential—success does.

Across The Nation

From Capitol Hill to community centers: the national updates shaping our collective future

🥇 Champions shine in Turin. The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 opened with a spectacular ceremony celebrating "the Strength of Kindness" at the Inalpi Arena—the first World Winter Games in 8 years, since 2017. Athletes from 100 nations took center stage alongside celebrities like Aloe Blacc and Mr. Rain, demonstrating that inclusion goes beyond sport. Special Olympics Board Chairman Dr. Tim Shriver captured the essence perfectly: "These athletes want to change your life and make you more joyful, tougher, and more brave than you ever imagined." The emotional highlight came when the Flame of Hope, having traveled from Greece and been blessed by the Vatican, entered the arena carried by athletes from all seven Special Olympics regions.

Community Catalyst

Local Innovation Worth Spreading: See how local changes are creating ripples of progress nationwide

🚘️ Roads open. A first-of-its-kind driving simulator developed through Vanderbilt and San Diego State University's collaboration is tackling one of the most significant barriers to independence for people with autism. Engineering Vice Dean Nilanjan Sarkar's ten-year project specifically addresses the intensified anxiety and distractibility that can make driving particularly challenging for this community.

For the 5 million US adults with autism seeking independence, transportation remains a significant barrier to employment. This innovative system does more than provide practice—it tracks physiological responses and eye movements to help instructors identify specific triggers of anxiety or distraction. Already being tested at ABS Kids in Nashville with promising results, the program helps participants like one licensed driver who previously relied on biking due to driving anxiety. After six months of testing, developers hope to expand the program nationwide, potentially removing a major roadblock to independence for the autism community. If you would like to read more, check out the original article.