Policy Pulse | What's new in autism advocacy? A lot!
Policy Pulse Newsletter - February 2025
March 3, 2025In the February 2025 Policy Pulse newsletter:
- Josh King shares his journey from the battlefield to autism advocacy
- Congress introduces new bills
- Advocates rally for state services
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"Our advocacy is stronger because of you. Congress has received nearly 10,000 requests from the Autism Speaks advocacy community in the past two weeks to oppose cuts to Medicaid. Thank you for sharing your stories and helping protect the critical healthcare and lifespan services autistic people and their families rely on." - Vice President of Advocacy David Sitcovsky
Josh King shares his journey from the battlefield to autism advocacy
In this episode of Just Another Autism Podcast, special host GW joins Josh King, who shares his journey as a single parent of an autistic daughter diagnosed at 18 months in 2005 while he was serving in Iraq.
Josh channeled challenges with childcare, medical services, special education services and caregiver support into advocacy. He ran for political offices, raising awareness of autism. While working in law enforcement, he's trained officers on special needs and autism. And while interning with Autism Speaks, he lobbied at the federal and state levels.
As he looks ahead, Josh emphasizes the need for local advocacy and bipartisan support.
Congress introduces new bills
Autism Speaks is proud to endorse and advocate in support of the following bills, which have been recently introduced in Congress.
Ensuring Nationwide Access to Better Life Experience Act | Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act |
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The ENABLE Act would improve the financial security of people with autism and other disabilities by permanently extending three beneficial tax provisions related to ABLE Accounts. ABLE Accounts allow people to save for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing other federal benefits (like Medicaid or SSI). Learn more. | "Charlotte's Bill" would prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system. It strengthens protections for autistic individuals, ensuring adequate supports and accommodations for a successful transplant evaluation, procedure and recovery. Learn more. |
Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act | Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers Act |
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Currently, couples who both receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have their benefits reduced if they get married. This bipartisan bill would remove the marriage penalty so autistic people do not have to choose between love, family and financial stability. Learn more. | The PACT Act creates a 10-year path to fully fund IDEA and Title I, which have been chronically underfunded since their inception. Support for these programs help autistic students receive the services they need to succeed in school. Learn more. |
Advocates rally for state services
Hundreds of advocates gathered in Annapolis, Maryland in February to advocate for continued funding of developmental disability (DD) services. Their advocacy highlighted the importance of individualized and community-based services for autistic individuals. While some budget cuts are no longer on the table, action is still needed to ensure existing services are maintained long-term. Join the Maryland campaign for DD Services.
We continue to advocate in support of bills in other states to improve access to home and community-based services (HCBS). In Texas, for example, Director of State Government Affairs Christa Stevens submitted recent comments to the Texas Budget and Appropriations Committees on the importance of the direct support professional (DSP) workforce in stabilizing the HCBS system.
News corner
- Iowa autism advocate, Kerry Lust, shares with KCCI News how a state bill to expand insurance coverage would be life-changing for individuals with autism like her son.
- CBS News interviewed advocates about proposed budget cuts at a rally for DD Services in Annapolis, Maryland.
- Autism Speaks CEO Keith Wargo is quoted in press releases by Rep. Valadao on the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act, Rep. Dingell on the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, and Rep. Smucker on the ENABLE Act.
Additional Resources & Tools
