Impact Feature Issue on Supporting Success in School and Beyond for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

On December 19, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This Act authorizes expanded activities related to Autism research, prevention, and treatment through 2011. Specifically, the Act authorizes:

• Research under the National Institutes of Health to address the entire scope of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
• Regional Centers of Excellence for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research and Epidemiology. These Centers collect and analyze information on the number, incidence, correlates, and causes of ASD and other developmental disabilities (DD). The Act also authorizes grants to States for collection, analysis, and dissemination of data related to Autism.
• Activities to increase public awareness of Autism, improve the ability of health care providers to use evidence-based interventions, and increase early screening. The Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to:- Provide information and education on ASD and other DD to increase public awareness of developmental milestones;- Increase the number of individuals who are able to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of ASD and other DD;- Promote early screening of individuals at higher risk for ASD and other DD;- Increase the number of individuals who are able to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of ASD and other DD;- Increase the number of individuals able to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals diagnosed with ASD or other DD; and- Promote the use of evidence-based interventions for individuals at higher risk for ASD and other DD as early as practicable.

Excerpted and adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061219-3.html