The Interagency Autism Coordinating Council--Part I, Background

Part I of a four-part series on the IACC

• Part I -- IACC background
• Part II--IACC: Coverage from "The Daily Web Newpaper of the Autism Epidemic"
• Part III--IACC: Coverage elsewhere on the web of IACC meetings, announcements, plans, and issues
• Part IV--2010 IACC members

What is the Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (IACC), and why should you care?

If you are a person affected by autism, you should care because this is the big bear in the room as far as autism research and service provision goes. If you are not affected by autism, you should care if you are a taxpayer

The federal government authorizes interagency coordinating councils and advisory councils in many different areas of interest, of which the IACC is one. The IACC began in 2001, as authorized by the Children's Children’s Health Act (CHA) of 2000. The CHA directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to:

1. Establish an Interagency Autism Coording Committee to coordinate all efforts within HHS concerning autism.
2. Expand, intensify, and coordinate activies of the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIH) with respect to research on autism
3. Develop disabilities surveillance and research programs
4. Establish and implement a program to provide information and education on autism to health professionals and the general public, including information and education on advances in diagnosis and treatment of autism and training and continuing education through programs for scientists, physicians, and other health professionals who provide care for patients with autism.
5. Submit an annual report to Congress "concerning the implementation of this title and the amendments made by this title."

In 2007, the IACC was re-authorized by the Combating Autism Act (CAA).

The Combating Autism Act (CAA) was a bi-partisan bill with broad support, introduced in 2005.  The original version was opposed by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, because of one provision to direct federal funding toward specific research priorities. When that provision was restated, the revised bill passed, and was signed into law by President Bush on December 19, 2006. Among its provisions were the re-authorization of the IACC with a broader mandate.

The Act Calls On The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) To Enhance Information Sharing. The IACC provides a forum to facilitate the efficient and effective exchange of information about autism activities, programs, policies, and research among the Federal government, several non-profit groups, and the public. The Combating Autism Act requires the IACC to provide information and recommendations on ASD-related programs, and to continue its work to develop and update annually a strategic plan for ASD research.

From the IAAC website:

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through its inclusion of both Federal and public members, the IACC helps to ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are represented and discussed in a public forum.

The IACC mission is to:

• Provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding Federal activities related to autism spectrum disorder.
• Facilitate the exchange of information on and coordination of ASD activities among the member agencies and organizations.
• Increase public understanding of the member agencies' activities, programs, policies, and research by providing a public forum for discussions related to ASD research and services.

IACC meetings are open to the public and include presentations and discussions on a variety of topics, including activities and projects of the IACC, recent advances in science and autism policy issues. A portion of each meeting is reserved for public comment.

The first meeting of the second iteration of the IACC took place in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2007

Comments

[KWombles]

Thank you, Liz. Excellent and important post.

[Squillo]

Seconded--thanks, Liz.