California Advocacy
Autism Speaks advocates to protect the rights, services and supports of people with autism. We work with partners on the federal and state government levels, collaborating with advocates, other organizations and policy leaders to redefine possible for people with autism.
Because of our collective advocacy, we have helped secure federal funding for programs in California and advanced policy that improves autism insurance coverage, autism research, healthcare training, transition to adulthood, lifespan services, dental care and safety for people with autism.
Because of state advocacy, California...
- Has an autism insurance law requiring health plan coverage of relevant services including applied behavior analysis (ABA) in state-regulated private insurance plans and Medicaid. In 2025, a new law was also passed to eliminate the burdensome and unnecessary requirement for individuals with autism to undergo repeated re-diagnoses in order to continue receiving behavioral health treatment.
- Has lowered the standard age for transition-age planning (effective July 1, 2025) for all students who have an Individualized Education Plan, to begin in freshman year so they can get an earlier start to planning for post-high school supports and opportunities.
- Eliminated repeated re-diagnosis requirements for behavioral health treatments in 2025, improving access to services including ABA therapy which help autistic individuals develop skills, increase independence, and improve their quality of life.
- Passed a law in 2025 to create an Oral Health for People with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center Program, to equip dental professionals with the education and tools they need to provide compassionate, effective care to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
- AB 2423 requires the state to review and update developmental disability service rate models every other year so that policymakers have current information about the funding required for these disability services to keep pace with economic changes – like cost of living, minimum wage increases and other expenses.
- Defended against substantive budget cuts to intellectual and developmental disability services in the 2025-2026 state budget.
- Has enhanced existing anti-discrimination and anti-bullying law by adding neurodivergence, including autism, to the categories it covers.
Because of federal advocacy, California...
- Research institutions have been awarded over $568.4 million in NIH autism research funding since FY15, including over $52.6 million in FY24 (most recent year available).
- Received funding to train future health professionals at four health & academic institutions through the LEND program to provide better health care services for autistic Californians (Children's Hospital Los Angeles; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Davis; and University of California, San Diego).
- Received funding to train future developmental behavioral pediatricians at four DPB training program sites (Stanford University, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of California, Davis, and University of California, San Diego), helping address the national shortage of DBPs who specialize in care for autistic children.
- Has an NIH Autism Center of Excellence at Stanford University, accelerating research on important areas of need.
- Received funding, through the ADDM program, to track autism prevalence and other important data about the characteristics and demographics of autistic children in New Jersey (at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences).
- Law enforcement agencies and other organizations have received 8 grants because of Kevin and Avonte’s Law, to help prevent deaths and injuries associated with autistic individuals wandering from safety.