Illinois 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 Illinois and advanced policy that improves autism insurance coverage, autism research, lifespan services for people with autism and more.
Because of state advocacy, Illinois…
- 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.
- Medicaid staff continue to engage with advocates to improve autism services for Illinois children enrolled in Medicaid and address the significant barriers to accessing ABA therapy.
- Improved safety and emergency response for people with autism through two new laws in 2025, which strengthen the state's emergency response systems for missing persons with I/DD and enhance autism and I/DD training for 988 and mobile crisis response workers.
- Continues to raise wages for direct support professionals who provide home and community-based services.
- DSP wages increased by 80 cents per hour in Fiscal Year 2025.
- In 2024, the state passed $80 million in funding for a $1 per hour wage increase.
- Is working to improve employment opportunities for autistic workers. Legislators and state agency personnel are being educated and activated to help build capacity through our Workforce Inclusion Now program.
Because of federal advocacy, Illinois…
- Research institutions have been awarded over $43 million in autism research funding since FY15, including over $8 million in FY24 (most recent year the information is available for).
- Received funding to train future health professionals at the University of Illinois at Chicago through the LEND program to provide better health care services for autistic Illinoisans.
- Received a $150,000 grant, through Kevin and Avonte’s Law, to support a local organization helping prevent deaths and injuries associated with autistic individuals wandering from safety.