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Whitmer Signs Autism Bills Into Law

xavier degroat
xavier degroat autism bill
Posted at 9:14 PM, Jun 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-23 21:14:52-04

LANSING, Mich. — Citizens with a communication impediment or on the autism spectrum now have tools available for their interaction with law enforcement as Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs 3 bills into law - HB 5541, SB 278/279, which would allow their Driver’s License, License Plate or State ID with a diagnoses by their doctor to be detected by the police so that the officer knows ahead of everything that there about to approach or currently are near an individual on the autism spectrum.

Michigan was one of the first states to have a law like this passed for people with autism. Thanks to the leadership and advocacy that Xavier DeGroat put into this with his persistent outreach to many leaders and lawmakers for the past 2 years in getting this positive change to occur in Michigan. Xavier was diagnosed with autism at early age and experienced challenges with law enforcement himself. This made him motivated to set up last year in April a “Policing Autism” event to train and develop this whole ideal into law and fight for others with similar experiences that have any sort of communication disorder.

“Awareness isn’t enough, but acceptance is” said CEO Xavier DeGroat. “Now I’m in the midst taking this initiative to the federal level to expand the principles of these laws for national change”

About the Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation (XDAF)
Founded in January 2018, the mission of the Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation is to create and promote opportunities for people with autism through advocacy, education, economic opportunities, and humanitarian efforts. Xavier DeGroat, the Foundation’s CEO and Founder, was diagnosed with autism at age four and has experienced discrimination, economic and job setbacks, and educational difficulties throughout his life. Xavier has decided to dedicate his life to helping others and is working to create a society that better understands autism and enables those with autism to be successful.

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