Disability Scoop
Quote:
Federal legislation allocating over $1.8 billion in government spending on autism efforts is one step closer to being approved.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support, or Autism CARES, Act, by a voice vote Wednesday.
The legislation, H.R. 1058, would renew a federal law that originated in 2006 and ensures support for research, prevalence tracking, screening, professional training and other government activities related to autism.
As it stands, the current version of the Autism CARES Act is set to expire at the end of September, meaning that without action from Congress, programs established through the act will come to a halt.
Under the measure approved by the House this week, the federal government would spend $369 million on autism efforts annually through 2024.
One key change in the renewal legislation is its extra focus on the needs of individuals with autism in all age groups. The phrase “across the lifespan” has been added to several provisions in the bill including sections talking about screening and research on interventions.
Additionally, the measure would increase the number of self-advocates, parents and autism group representatives on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a federal autism advisory panel, from two to three each. And, it would require officials from the Departments of Labor, Justice, Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development to join the committee.
The bill would also ask the Department of Health and Human Services to produce a report for Congress on the health and well-being of individuals with autism.
Kim Musheno, vice president of public policy at the Autism Society of America, said the shift to consider people across the lifespan is significant.
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“Self Acceptance is a process not a performance”
“You are autistic enough. And you always have been”
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
25 Jul 2019, 3:57 am
