Autism Caucus

Current Issues and Legislation

The Global Autism Assistance Act (H,R. 1878)
This bill would fund programs addressing autism in the developing world.  This legislation, the Global Autism Assistance Act, would authorize $10 million over three years for service providers and advocacy groups for autistic children specifically in countries with weak healthcare infrastructure.  The Global Autism Assistance Act would fund small grants to raise autism awareness and create new ways to share American expertise and advancements in the diagnoses and treatment of autism with families and medical professionals in countries that have yet to focus on the worldwide increase in the prevalence of autism.

The Global Autism Assistance Act would also establish a "teach the teachers" program in which qualified US specialists would train education and health professionals working with children with autism in the developing world. The program would host multiple workshops to enable American education, medical, and psychological specialists to share their expertise with parents and health and education professionals in the program's pilot regions. This is designed to help create a new corps of professionals in the pilot regions who can then fan out and help others further their autism assistance programs on their own.

Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act (H.R. 2413)
This legislation would develop model autism care centers that would improve and coordinate the care that individuals with autism receive and provide those services at a single location, improve the dissemination of information between autism researchers and service providers helping individuals on the front lines, improve training for professionals treating autism spectrum disorders, and mandate that health insurers cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.  Specifically, the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act would establish:

Autism Care Centers Demonstration Project
Creates a demonstration project to develop Autism Care Centers in order to increase access to quality health care services and communication among healthcare providers, educators, and other providers of services; enable beneficiaries to designate a personal primary care coordinator as a source of contact for a family; and provide a full array of medical, behavioral, mental health, educational and family care services to individuals and families in a single location
 
Adult Services Demonstration Project
Creates a demonstration project to provide an array of services to adults with autism spectrum disorders including: post secondary education, vocational and self advocacy skills, employment; residential services, supports and housing; nutrition, health and wellness; recreational and social activities; and transportation and personal safety
 
Public Education and Awareness Campaign
Develops a national multimedia campaign to increase public education and awareness about healthy developmental milestones and autism throughout the lifespan. Campaigns will be targeted at a general public audience or specific audiences such as medical, criminal justice, or emergency professionals.
 
Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee
Establishes an Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee to coordinate and advise on government activities relating to research, services, and programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.  Members will include representatives from relevant governmental agencies (Dept. of Health and Human Services, Dept. of Education, etc) and members representing individuals with autism, parents, service providers, and advocacy groups. 
 
National Network for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research and Services
Establishes a National Network in order to strengthen linkages between research and service initiatives at the federal, regional, state and local levels, and facilitate the translation of research on autism into services and treatments that will improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families.  A national data repository will be created to share emerging data, findings, and treatment models. 
 
National Training Initiative
Creates a national training initiative on autism and a technical assistance center to develop and expand interdisciplinary training and continuing education on autism spectrum disorders.
 
Insurance Coverage Requirement
Requires that health insurers cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, including Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, other proven effective treatments, and assistive communication devices.

Past Accomplishments

Combating Autism Act
In December of 2006, both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed S. 843, the Combating Autism Act and the President signed it into law on December 19, 2006.  This legislation authorizes $860 million through 2011 in federal funding for autism-related research.  Specifically, the Combating Autism Act provides funding for research and diagnostics related to autism spectrum disorder, early identification of autism, and promotes early intervention.  It also establishes a state-level clearing house for information on autism.  This bill will provide some much-needed assistance to the 1.5 millions Americans living with autism today, although much work needs to be done.

Defense Appropriations
Starting in 2007, the annual appropriations bill for the Department of Defense has included funds for autism-related research.  This funding, allotted under the Army’s Research, Development, Education, and Training Center, supports research on autism spectrum disorders in the military.  The findings, however, also benefit the broader autism community as well.