Have been strong and active advocates in the Autism community at the local and state levels for more than twenty years. They have spearheaded grassroots efforts with other community leaders to create new policies and pass legislation.
About
Holly & Melissa
History
EVAN was founded in 2005 by three mothers of children with autism: Holly Reycraft, Melissa Van Hook and Katie Wride. These women have a special passion for passing legislation that affects the autism community. They passed autism legislation in 2007, 2009 and 2015 while partnering with other stakeholders in the AZ Special Education Community to address pertinent issues.
- Senate Bill 1263 & House Bill 2847 – Steven’s Law – Autism Insurance Legislation (2007)
This statute mandates that insurance companies must cover autism treatment including speech, occupational, and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapies.
- Senate Bill 1197 – Task Force on Best Practices in Special Education and Behavior Management (2009)
This statute developed policies, recommendations, and guidelines for local schools to follow with regard to the best practices for restraining, secluding, and disciplining students. Arizona school districts had a choice of adopting the policy or modifying its guidelines.
- Melissa and Holly developed the Special Education Parent Council (SEPC) for Gilbert Public Schools in 2011.
- Senate Bill 1459 – Appropriate Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (2015).
This statute mandates how schools provide best practices for restraining, secluding, and disciplining students. All state school districts must follow this mandate, and the Task Force of 2009 paved the way for its passage.
Holly Reycraft is residential real estate agent who specializes in helping families relocate to or within the Phoenix area based on their child’s educational needs. Holly has spent nearly 30years advocating for special-needs children in several capacities. She spent 10 years in public education as a counselor, special education teacher and administrator. As the co-founder of the East Valley Autism Network (EVAN), a parent support group, created 15 years ago, Holly enjoys helping families and passing legislation that betters the lives of individuals with autism and special needs. She is married and has three children, and her oldest son, Hunter, has Autism and Type 1 diabetes. She loves working with families and helping them find their dream homes. Most importantly, she enjoys assisting families in finding a school choice and home that together meet their unique needs. EVAN serves as a support group for all autism families and connects many of Holly’s clients who have relocated to Phoenix from all over the United States among its members.
Melissa Van Hook is an Arizona native and an Arizona State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is the Vocational Rehabilitation Coordinator for HOPE Group and has 21 years of experience in the world of autism and other disabilities. Melissa is particularly passionate about transition, and she looks forward to making great strides in integrated employment. A Co-Founder of East Valley Autism Network and the Vice Chair for the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Melissa has worked closely with others in the autism community to pass several key pieces of legislation, including the autism insurance bill, Steven’s Law, in 2008. Most importantly, Melissa is the mother of two amazing sons with autism, both of whom have driven her to improve outcomes for people of all abilities.