Matthew Bouchard

My name is Matthew Bouchard, and I am here as a brother to an autistic sister. I have watched my family navigate autism day in and day out for years. Autism does not pause for meetings, reports, or restarts. Families live this every single day — coordinating care, fighting for services, managing crises, and trying to plan for the future with very little support. Since COVID, we were told the Autism Council would “restart.” We were told things would improve. Years later, nothing meaningful has changed for families like mine. The same barriers exist. The same gaps in services remain. The same exhaustion and frustration are still there. From the family side, the Council has not made a difference in our daily reality. It has not improved access to services, reduced waitlists, or provided clear, practical support. What it has done is create the appearance that the state is addressing autism — while families continue to struggle on their own. A council that exists mostly on paper does not help autistic people. Oversight that produces no outcomes is not oversight. Keeping a non-functioning council in statute does not protect families — it delays real reform. Repealing this Council is not turning away from autism. It is acknowledging that this structure has failed families and that we need a new, more accountable approach that actually listens to those living this every day. My sister deserves more than promises. Families deserve more than restarts that lead nowhere. I urge you to support repeal so the state can stop pretending this system works and start building something that does. Thank you for listening.