On March 5, 2009, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) released the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research, which will advise the federal government on the requirements and opportunities for autism research.

The IACC, which was created as part of the Combating Autism Act to coordinate all autism-related efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is comprised of federal government officials and appointed public members from the autism advocacy community.

The plan is comprised of six research areas aimed at addressing consumer-focused questions about autism: When should I be concerned? How can I understand what is happening? What caused this to happen and can it be prevented? Which treatments and interventions will help? Where can I turn for services? What does the future hold? Each question is followed by a discussion of what is currently known, what needs to be learned, and the research opportunities in the area.

Autism Speaks acknowledges the hard work that went into the development of the Strategic Plan and offers its support and assistance in developing the update to the plan that will place in 2009.

Click here to read a press release from the IACC

Click here to read the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research