Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a United States federal advisory panel within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It coordinates all efforts within HHS concerning autism spectrum disorder.
The IACC was established in 2000, and was reauthorized and chartered as a federal advisory committee since 2006. It is subject to periodic reauthorization.[1]
Mission
The IACC's primary objective is to monitor autism research and associated services and support activities throughout all federal departments and agencies, ensuring that efforts are not duplicative and that they benefit from cross-collaborative opportunities.[2] The IACC advises the Secretary of HHS of advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out a diagnosis; interventions, and access to services and supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.[3] Additional functions of the IACC are to increase public understanding of member agencies' activities and research, and to act as a public forum to discuss autism spectrum disorder-related matters.
An annual update summarizing advances is submitted to Congress and the President. The annual update has been published online every year since 2007. The IACC report of 2016 activities was released in April 2017.[4][5]
GAO recommendation
The IACC Strategic Plan is released periodically,[1] with the newest update since 2013 expected in the fall of 2017.[6] A November 2013 study of federal autism activities by the U.S. General Accounting Office found that better data and more coordination was needed, with specific recommendations for IACC, including annual updates of the IACC strategic plan.[7]
Membership and administration
The Committee includes both federal and public members. Federal officials are selected from government agencies that work on autism related issues. Public members include advocates, community providers, and researchers. There are 31 IACC members, three of whom are autistic.[8]
IACC activities and associated cross-agency programs, policies and research are coordinated and managed by the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC).[9]
Member agencies
IACC member agencies within HHS are:
- Administration for Community Living
- Agency for Healthcare Resources and Quality (AHRQ)
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Member agencies external to HHS are the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Education.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Autism Policy Issues Overview". www.ncsl.org. National Conference of State Legislatures. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "GAO Action Tracker: Health: Federal Autism Research". www.gao.gov. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Resources". safesupportivelearning.ed.gov. American Institutes for Research. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "Meeting: HHS Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)". SciPol. Duke University. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "IACC announces its top autism research advances of 2016". Autism Speaks. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Strategic Plan 2016 - 2017 | IACC". iacc.hhs.gov. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ^ "Federal Autism Activities: Better Data and More Coordination Needed to Help Avoid the Potential for Unnecessary Duplication". www.gao.gov. Office of U.S. Government Accountability. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ Luterman, Sara (10 August 2017). "Government Committee Recommends Increase in Autism Research Funding". NOS Magazine. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC)". www.nimh.nih.gov. The National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved 24 September 2017.