SILVER SPRING, MD – On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law the bipartisan Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act, or Autism CARES Act of 2024.
The Autism CARES Act is the most comprehensive federal law addressing the urgent needs of children, adolescents, and adults with autism. Over its 17-year history, this law has resulted in a significant increase in our understanding of autism and related neurodevelopmental disabilities. The CARES Act is crucial to maintaining and improving the monitoring, training, and research programs focused on improving the lives of children and adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, and their families.
“There is still much more work to be done to improve the quality of lives with people with autism and their families,” said Cindy Smith, Director of Public Policy. “AUCD is tremendously grateful for the leadership of Representative Chris Smith, Representative Henry Cuellar, Senator Ben Ray Luján, and Senator Collins to ensure these critical programs and investments continued in this new law. AUCD thanks President Biden for signing the CARES Act into law and to all other members of Congress who supported this important legislation. We look forward to continuing to engage in work that makes a positive impact in the lives of people with autism and other disabilities.”
The CARES Act creates a coordinated response and increases investments across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address the rising numbers of children and adults diagnosed with autism. The reauthorized CARES Act continues key programs and investments, such as AUCD’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs, which trains health professionals from a variety of disciplines to professionals and their ability to screen, refer and provide services to improve the health and wellbeing of children and adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.
The membership of AUCD includes a national Network–serving every state and territory–of 68 University Centers for Excellence (UCEDDs), 60 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LENDs) Programs, and 15 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs). Together, these Centers and Programs provide a direct national impact through direct services, the development of new professionals, and the use of new knowledge generated from our research.
AUCD is available for contact. Please contact Cindy Smith, Director of Public Policy, at [email protected].
