Articles

Photo Shot of Maria Montenegro
Advocacy News
9.14.2023

Maria Montenegro, Caregiver Skills Training Master Trainer

Maria shares how the University of Texas' caregiver skills training program is benefiting Spanish-speaking families in the Rio Grande Valley.
Photo of Ana Ramirez
Advocacy News
9.14.2023

Ana C Ramirez, Caregiver Skills Training Master Trainer

Ana speaks to the impact of that the University of Texas' caregiver skills training program has on Spanish-speaking families in the Rio Grande Valley.
Robert Varnedoe, Josh Cobbs, Senator Chuck Grassley and Arianna Esposito at Lee Container
Advocacy News
8.11.2023

Senator Grassley tours manufacturer Lee Container, highlighting innovative solutions for workforce development & inclusion of autistic employees

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley joined Autism Speaks and Lee Container President Robert Varnedoe to discuss employment opportunities for autistic people.
Medical supplies
Advocacy News
5.25.2023

HEADs UP Act is introduced in the US House of Representatives

New legislation introduced in Congress could help achieve better health outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD),
Autism Family Caregivers Act written over photo of boy at table
Advocacy News
4.27.2023

Autism Speaks Applauds Reintroduction of Autism Family Caregivers Act

The Autism Family Caregivers Act was reintroduced in Congress to provide access to skills training for caregivers of young children with autism or
Map of United States with markers for where ADDM sites are located
Advocacy News
4.25.2023

ADDM Network adds new sites, offering opportunities for new insights on autism

We are proud to celebrate a historic expansion of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, from 11 to 16 sites across the
2022 with colorful fireworks behind numbers
Advocacy News
12.31.2022

2022 Advocacy Highlights

Today, we celebrate the policy milestones and accomplishments that your support helped us achieve in 2022.
US Capitol building
Advocacy News
12.23.2022

Milestone wins for the autism community in federal bill

The hard work of advocates across the country and congressional champions for the autism community came to fruition with the passage of a federal
judge signing a document with wooden gavel resting nearby
Advocacy News
10.10.2022

The Importance of Generally Accepted Standards of Care

The Wit decision represents the most successful effort to date to hold health insurers accountable for unequal coverage of mental health disorders.
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
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
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
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
2021 in gold firework lettering
Advocacy News
12.30.2021

2021 Advocacy Highlights

Our Advocacy Team pursues policy solutions throughout the year that protect the rights of and enhance the services and supports for people with autism
The words "BUILD BACK BETTER" in red, white and blue colors (credit: shutterstock)
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