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Autism Speaks honors California Assemblymember, Dr. Corey Jackson for leadership in funding autism services provided by direct support professionals… Award. This recognition celebrates Assemblymember Jackson’s unwavering leadership in securing vital funding for services supporting people with autism and other intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). His early and decisive work on … for an increase in reimbursement rates for disability service providers, which took effect at the beginning of 2025. Direct support professionals (DSPs) and others who provide regional center waiver services will benefit from these increases, … stabilizing the home and community-based services system and growing the struggling workforce of DSPs who provide essential support to people with autism. Recognizing the potential harm of such a delay, Chair Jackson championed the cause, pushing …
Legislative wins in California strengthen supports, opportunities and safety of autistic individuals… Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed several bills that Autism Speaks supported in the California General Assembly, which will strengthen supports for autistic students and help address gaps in funding for disability services. Included among these legislative …
With Medicaid funding at risk, Laura’s message is clear – “It’s time to mobilize”… Laura Lear is the CEO of Community Support Services, Inc. (CSS), and has spent the past seventeen years working alongside dedicated professionals to enhance … enhanced service models promoting community inclusion and individual choice. CSS has been able to develop a wide range of supports and services designed to provide the resources desired by each person to pursue his/her self-directed goals. …
Policy Pulse | Advocacy in full swing… been a driver of autism-specific federal programs, which have helped transform our understanding of autism as well as the supports available to families for over 20 years. A new Congress brings new opportunity to grow the size of the Autism Caucus; and as a result, increase support of national autism policy. Ask your members of Congress to join. A researcher perspective How the Autism CARES …
Lifelong supports… The autism community relies on lifelong supports People with autism and the families that support them rely on a range of options throughout their life spans to live, remain safe and participate in their …
Federal legislation we support… Below is a list of recent federal legislation that Autism Speaks has endorsed, reflecting our commitment to policies that support meaningful improvements in services, research, and quality of life for the autism community. Endorsed bills in the … 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. The IDEA Full Funding …
Legislation to support family caregivers advances… The Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act was introduced to support family caregivers in the United States, the millions of individuals who rely on them, as well as the economy and …
IACC meeting focuses on support for caregivers … challenge that comes with navigating a network of autism services, providing day-to-day care and planning for the future support needs of a loved one. This meeting’s discussion highlighted the critical role family caregivers play throughout … Panel discussion: Family caregiving Panelists offered the perspectives of parents, grandparents, self-advocates, and siblings by sharing their lived experiences. Their personal examples shed light on the diversity of needs, depicting the …
Why I advocate for Direct Support Professionals… by Kit Peterson, a grandmother of a young man on the autism spectrum. She is an advocate for fair pay for the direct support professionals who have become family to people like her grandson. Despite how difficult it was to accept our family’s reality, we all jumped in to support Karla. Jonathan received every service available: occupational, speech, and physical therapies, special education, …
Hatching Hope Foundation brings support to Texas families… triplets, was diagnosed with autism in 2012 at age 2.5, she struggled to find much-needed information, services and social supports in her area. This struggle motivated Sabrina to commit her life to helping underserved families in Ft. Worth, Texas … she founded the Hatching Hope Foundation, an organization that provides parent training about autism, individual and family support services, and special education advocacy. In 2019, Keshawn tragically passed away from Osteosarcoma, a rare form of … game and someone who really understands what it’s like to be a parent living with a child with severe autism. Our Facebook support group, Autism Mocha Moms , has been another great way to connect with parents in the community. The group was …