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 and read how it made a difference in one family’s life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.