Articles

Autism Speaks and Congresswoman Grace Meng Address the Importance of Caregiver Skills Training Programs in Local Communities at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
Advocacy News
9.9.2022

Autism Speaks and Congresswoman Grace Meng address the importance of Caregiver Skills Training Programs in local communities

Autism Speaks President and CEO Keith Wargo joined Congresswoman Grace Meng, leaders and staff of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center and
Young Child
Advocacy News
9.6.2022

Montana’s Medicaid benefit changes to provide more children with autism the treatment they need

In order to ensure more children with autism utilize Montana's Medicaid Program, the state has announced changes focused on expanded eligibility and
Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Advocacy News
7.13.2022

Autism Speaks applauds progress in U.S. House on key funding priorities

The House Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that includes $10 million increase to expand the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring
toddler playing with blocks
Advocacy News
6.13.2022

Maryland reduces waitlist for autism services by half

Maryland puts the needs of kids and families first by enacting the End the Wait Act which will decrease the waiting time for the Autism Waiver by 50%.
a child playing with blocks
Advocacy News
5.31.2022

Georgia celebrates expanded coverage of autism services

Georgia's new Mental Health Parity Act boosts protections for autistic individuals and improves coverage of autism services by Medicaid.
boy working with therapist at small table
Advocacy News
5.31.2022

New law improves coverage for autism in Iowa

When Iowa lawmakers gathered in Des Moines this year for their legislative session, they passed a new law that secures coverage for a wider range of
young boy sorting blocks at school desk with plastic bin of building blocks in front of him
Advocacy News
5.23.2022

2022 Florida Advocacy Wins

Policy efforts will expand access to special education supports, therapy services and insurance information for people with autism in Florida. Read
aba therapy with a child
Advocacy News
5.23.2022

Virginia celebrates increased protections for autism services

New Virginia law ensures that autism is protected by federal mental health parity law and secures coverage for a wider range of medically necessary
A mom works with a child who has autism during a Caregiver Skills Training workshop. Photo courtesy Mom2Mom
Advocacy News
2.18.2022

Autism Speaks applauds introduction of the Autism Family Caregivers Act

Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) introduced the Autism Family Caregivers Act to improve the lives of
Headshot of Kelly Headrick
Advocacy News
2.10.2022

Autism Speaks representative appointed to National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Consumer Liaison group

Autism Speaks Senior Director of State Government Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy Kelly Headrick was recently named as a 2022 NAIC consumer liaison
A child and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) at the Thompson Center during ABA therapy
Advocacy News
2.8.2022

Historic progress in children’s Medicaid coverage of autism services

This month, Texas became the 50th state to implement its Medicaid autism services benefit which provides coverage for ABA therapy when medically
A child and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) at the Thompson Center during ABA therapy
Advocacy News
1.28.2022

New Texas ABA Medicaid benefit

Click here to learn about the new Texas ABA Medicaid benefit. Effective February 1, 2022, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a covered benefit for
Iowa Governor Reynolds Award Presentation
Advocacy News
1.6.2022

Autism Speaks recognizes Iowa Governor Reynolds for support of community

Autism advocates and families recognize Iowa Governor with the AS Public Service Award for championing initiatives that support autistic adults in
2021 in gold firework lettering
Advocacy News
12.30.2021

2021 Advocacy Highlights

Today, we celebrate the policy milestones and accomplishments that your support helped us achieve in 2021.
Build Back Better
Advocacy News
11.19.2021

U.S. House passes historic investment in home and community-based services

The historic $150 billion investment in HCBS was passed as a part of the Build Back Better Act and comes after months of advocacy where autistic
Vicki Depenbusch, Speaker Hilgers, Commissioner Blomstedt, Sen. Walz, and Cathy Martinez
Advocacy News
10.6.2021

Autism Speaks recognizes Nebraska legislators as autism champions

Autism advocates joined us in recognizing the leadership of Speaker Mike Hilgers, Senator Lynne Walz and Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner