E-Speaks Newsletter
Healthcare reform bill stopped in United States Senate
Last week, the U.S. Senate failed in its effort to pass legislation that makes changes to the Affordable Care Act. With this, proposed reductions to Medicaid have also been set aside. But still, more than 500,000 of our fellow Americans with disabilities wait for services on Medicaid waiver lists around the country. It's up to us to urge Congress and governors around the country to make these services more widely accessible and encourage innovation for the services that do exist. Please sign up to be an advocate when the millions of Americans living with autism — and all Americans — need our voices now more than ever.
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee doubles down
Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Tom Frazier participated in the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) meeting last week. Dr. Frazier provided the committee with an update on Autism Speaks' science activities and strategic planning process. The IACC is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). During the meeting, the committee members voted to recommend that annual research spending on autism be doubled by 2020. This recommendation will be included in the committee's strategic plan it submits to HHS as required by the Autism CARES Act. Learn more about the IACC.
Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
Critical legislation is progressing that would help ensure our education system provides high-quality career training to help all students including students with autism secure and keep meaningful employment after school. Employment is a primary element in the long-term independence and community integration of people with autism. Autism Speaks supports passage of H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, because we believe the legislation will help prepare students to achieve positive employment outcomes after school. Learn more about H.R. 2353.
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