Connecticut 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 the community’s collective advocacy, we have helped secure federal funding for programs in Connecticut and advanced policy that improves autism insurance coverage, autism research, healthcare training, transition to adulthood and lifespan services for people with autism.
Because of state advocacy, Connecticut...
- Has an autism insurance law requiring health plan coverage of relevant services, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), in state-regulated private insurance plans and removed its age and dollar caps on coverage in 2014.
- Amended their State Medicaid Plan to include ABA as a covered benefit.
- Increased direct service professional (DSP) wages, to help address a workforce shortage of DSPs who provide critical lifespan supports for people with autism.
- Has lowered the required age for transition-age planning for all students who have an Individualized Education Plan, to age 14 so they can get an earlier start to planning for post-high school supports and opportunities.
Because of federal advocacy, Connecticut...
- Research institutions have been awarded over $104.3 million in NIH autism research funding since FY15, including nearly $9.4 million in FY24 (most recent year available).
- Received funding to train future health professionals through the LEND program at the University of Connecticut Health Center (Farmington, CT) to provide better health care services for autistic people in Connecticut.