Governor Signs Order to Support Adults with Profound Autism

08:18AM / Sunday, April 05, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Ahead of Autism Awareness Month, Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order to establish a statewide strategy to better support adults with profound autism, or adults who are over 22 years old with diagnosed autism spectrum disorder and require 24-hour support and assistance due to a significant intellectual disabilities and limited or no language skills.

The Executive Order aims to improve coordination across state agencies, promote innovation and advance outcomes for adults with profound autism and their families.

Adults with profound autism and intellectual developmental disabilities represent a highly vulnerable and growing population in Massachusetts.

"Massachusetts is committed to care and support for all. This executive order will strengthen coordination across agencies and help ensure that adults with profound autism and their families receive the support they need," said Governor Healey. "I look forward to appointing individuals representing families, providers, clinicians and advocates who bring deep expertise and lived experience to this work."

The Executive Order establishes an advisory council led by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, with designees from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Executive Office of Administration and Finance, Department of Developmental Services, Department of Mental Health, Medicaid Director, and the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. Governor Healey will also appoint up to 10 additional members representing families, clinicians, providers and advocates with expertise in supporting adults with profound autism.

The advisory council will develop recommendations focused on:

Reporting on the prevalence of adults with profound autism in Massachusetts;
Strengthening coordination across state systems serving adults with profound autism, including reviewing eligibility requirements across service systems;
Promoting person-centered, strengths-based approaches that recognize the needs of adults with profound autism;
Identifying opportunities to improve access to stable housing, health care, community-based services, and meaningful daily activities;
Encouraging innovative residential living and service models that support safety, stability, and quality of life;
Improving the use of data to better understand population needs, service utilization, outcomes, and efficient use of state resources over time;
Supporting a sustainable and well-trained workforce responsive to level of care and support needs; and
Informing future policy and budget planning in a manner consistent with the state’s long-term fiscal responsibility.

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Teacher of the Month: Nickole Halvorsen

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:21PM / Monday, August 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For many students, kindergarten is their first experience in a school setting and the beginning of ongoing growth and change throughout their lives.

Kindergarten teacher Nickole Halvorsen strives to instill in her students the foundational academic and social-emotional skills they need to succeed not only in her classroom, but throughout their educational journey and beyond.

It is this dedication, along with the fun, safe and welcoming environment that students describe her as cultivating, that has earned her the iBerkshires.com Teacher of the Month designation.

The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.

The end of the year was bittersweet for Halvorsen and her students as they said goodbye to Morningside Community School, which closed its doors for the final time in May.

"Now at the end of the year, it gets sad and a little more emotional, especially this year because this is our last year at Morningside," she said during her interview in May.

So, really focusing on coming in, being here, being present [and] consistent for them matters the most for me, and they make me want to be here. I want to have fun with them. I want to enjoy every last bit we can of being in the school building."

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