Washington, D.C. (July 15, 2010) – Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), a consortium of leading autism advocacy organizations and service providers, today unveiled a National Public Policy Agenda with the goal of inspiring legislative action to meet the increasing and unmet demand for effective services for adolescents and adults with the disorder. The National Policy Agenda was announced at a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. that brought together federal legislators, national policymakers and advocates for adults with autism – including individuals who have autism – to discuss priorities for action in the public and private sectors.
The AFAA National Public Policy Agenda focuses on three areas of priority: providing access to services and supports to develop important life skills; providing access to skilled direct care personnel; and providing access to – and choice within – the funding of services. Among other actions, the AFAA is calling for the expansion of appropriate housing opportunities, greater vocational supports, more training for service providers and portable, individualized funding streams for services.
“We are advocating for meaningful change that will empower adults with autism to lead independent and productive lives,” said Peter Bell, AFAA co-chair and executive vice president of Autism Speaks. “It is going to require persistence by the autism community and real leadership from our elected officials and influencers in the private sector to turn these policy priorities into meaningful action. We are not asking for a hand-out, but rather for the creation or expansion of programs that will maximize the potential of the growing number of people with autism and minimize, in the long run, the cost to society.”
The AFAA Congressional briefing – which featured remarks by honorary co-chairs Senator Robert Menendez (NJ) and Congressman Mike Doyle (PA) -- was the latest step in an ongoing effort to identify key policy priorities to advocate for the needs of adults with autism to address critical challenges. An initial AFAA Think Tank in January 2009 was followed last November by a National Town Hall Meeting, which included almost 1,200 participants in sixteen locations across the country.
For more information about the AFAA and to view the full National Public Policy Agenda, visit www.afaa-us.org.
About Autism
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
About AFAA
Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) is a national consortium seeking to create meaningful futures for adults with autism that include homes, jobs, recreation, friends and supportive communities. This unique national consortium has united to set national priorities for adults on the autism spectrum and to transform public policy and programming for teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Throughout 2009, AFAA will collect information, develop strategic solutions and advance the national agenda.
Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, and the New York Center for Autism are the AFAA organization chairs. The AFAA partners are: Global Communities of Support; Alpine Learning Group; The Autism Program of Illinois; The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation; Easter Seals; Hallmark Community Solutions; Organization for Autism Research; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center; and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. For more information, please visit www.afaa-us.org/.
