The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has re-instated the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), which will meet on November 17th. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell has convened a new committee tasked with making recommendations on autism-related programs and services.The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee is a federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It includes representatives of several federal agencies, autism advocacy groups and research institutions. Three members of the panel are individuals who are on the spectrum themselves.
The IACC mission is to:
- Provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding Federal activities related to autism spectrum disorder.
- Facilitate the exchange of information on and coordination of ASD activities among the member agencies and organizations.
- Increase public understanding of the member agencies' activities, programs, policies, and research by providing a public forum for discussions related to ASD research and services.
IACC meetings are open to the public, with materials, slides and videocasts also available on the IACC Meeting and Events website. The 2013 update to the strategic plan address the question, What Does the Future Hold, Particularly for Adults? The following is excerpted from the plan update.
The growing number of adults with autism due to increased awareness and diagnosis, as well as the transition of children and adolescents into adulthood has reinforced the sense of urgency around research that can guide national policy recommendations for supports and models of employment, community living, and continued education. Much growth in ASD program innovations is occurring outside of the traditional academic realm, and this body of practice-based knowledge should be incorporated along with more traditional research efforts as an important driver of future investigations.
If your program works with adults with ASD, consider accessing the IACC's meetings, in-person or online, to learn more about how we as adult educators are able to provide more collaborative services for persons with autism.
Best,
Mike Cruse
Disabilities in Adult Education Moderator
michaelcruse74@gmail.com