In this Monthly Mission Spotlight, Autism Speaks is proud to share our
efforts to expand access to services and supports among autistic youth
in the U.S. Through our advocacy, research initiatives and caregiver
support programs, we are working to ensure that all people with autism
can reach their full potential.

Increasing early childhood screening and timely interventions

Family ECHO: Autism works to fill the care gap for children with
autism

From navigating a diagnosis to learning about new therapies, parents
and caregivers of children with autism need an immense amount of
knowledge and support to care for their loved ones. Family ECHO:
Autism is a training series organized by Nationwide Children's
Hospital, an Autism Care Network site, and supported in part by Autism
Speaks with the goal of helping families build the skills they need to
better care for their autistic children. Learn more about the program ([link removed] ) and read how it made a difference in one family's life ([link removed] ).

Autism Speaks applauds introduction of the Autism Family Caregivers
Act

Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mike
Doyle (D-PA) recently introduced the Autism Family Caregivers Act, a
bill that would expand access to the Autism Speaks-supported Caregiver
Skills Training (CST) program. If passed, the bill will authorize
grants to establish 25 CST pilot sites in at least 15 states. The
training established under the program would provide caregivers of
children with autism and developmental disabilities or delays with
evidence-based strategies to improve social communication and
behavioral outcomes. Learn more: [link removed]

Being a catalyst for life-enhancing research breakthroughs

Autism Speaks awards nearly $600,000 in Research Planning Grants

Autism Speaks recently announced grant funding to two research teams
working to develop a model of care for autistic people across the
lifespan who are experiencing severe behavioral challenges.
Researchers will also design a method to evaluate the efficacy of this
model, with the goal of creating a program that can be replicated by
clinicians and service providers in broader communities. Learn more: [link removed]

Ensuring access to reliable information and services throughout the
lifespan

Autism Speaks advocacy efforts result in expanded Medicaid coverage
for ABA therapy

Last month, Texas became the 50th state to implement its autism
services benefit. After years of advocacy, this marks historic
progress in our work to ensure coverage for applied behavior analysis
(ABA) therapy when medically appropriate for autistic children
enrolled in Medicaid. Autism Speaks staff and volunteers continue to
lead in states across the U.S. to see these benefits into
implementation and to advocate for improved services for autistic
youth. Learn more: [link removed]

Autism Speaks advocates for greater insurance coverage for the autism
community

Autism Speaks Senior Director of State Government Affairs and
Grassroots Advocacy Kelly Headrick was recently named a 2022 consumer
liaison representative for the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners (NAIC). In this position, Ms. Headrick will advocate for
better insurance coverage in the autism community. She will continue
in this role for the remainder of the year, helping to ensure access
to reliable information and services for people with autism. Learn
more: [link removed]

Increasing global understanding and acceptance of people with autism

New research examines special interests in autism

One of the most common characteristics of autism is the existence of
restricted or narrow and intense interests. Until now, there has been
little research into how special interests present in the autistic
community, but a recent study supported in part by Autism Speaks set
out to better understand restricted interests in a group of autistic
youth with a range of intellectual disability. Learn more: [link removed]


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