Former President Joe Biden signed a five-year extension of the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (Autism CARES Act) in late December 2024. The move came just days after the Autism CARES Act expired.
Autism CARES Act
The Autism CARES Act, which originated in 2006, funds autism research, tracking, screening, professional training, and similar activities. It is the most comprehensive law addressing the needs of individuals with autism. In particular, the law promotes research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the adoption of assistive communication, the need for more developmental behavioral pediatricians, and services for youth with autism aging out of school. The Act also includes federal research funds for all individuals on the autism spectrum, including those with profound autism.
Think Differently Database Act
Congress also enacted the Think Differently Database Act, which requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a webpage using plain language that offers resources on state Medicaid offices, home and community-based services waivers, and options for caregivers.
Funding for Initiatives
Despite this federal legislation, funding for these initiatives remains uncertain. A federal funding freeze was briefly in effect, and although a federal court has enjoined the freeze, funding has only slowly been restored. This high level of uncertainty has led to layoffs in federal government agencies that provide and administer funds and in nonprofits that receive federal funding to support persons with disabilities. Meanwhile, Congress is calling for billions of dollars of cuts to Medicaid and other public assistance programs, potentially affecting SNAP, Medicare, Head Start, the school lunch program, vocational rehabilitation, and housing assistance.
As a result of the current climate, whether federal funding continues to flow to the programs designed to support people with autism and other disabilities remains to be seen. Guidance from the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) remain unclear and conflicting, at best. While the White House publicly stated at various times that cuts to programs like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Social Security would not occur, printed materials have not excluded those programs from funding cuts and freezes.
Furthermore, Trump’s recent executive orders concerning diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs and policies have directly affected federal funding for important initiatives that assist people with disabilities, such as terminating all programs designed to promote or work toward DEIA. The federal government also has removed public information from its websites concerning inclusion efforts for persons with disabilities, such as the website maintained by the Office of Disability Employment Policy. All federal employees in DEIA and accessibility positions have been placed on administrative leave and/or had their employment terminated.
Meanwhile, various Social Security Administration (SSA) offices have been marked for closure, and many SSA staff have been laid off, with additional losses likely to occur. The office was already at a 50-year staffing low, which caused significant customer service delays. Now, access to SSA offices has further decreased, which will lead to significant barriers for individuals with autism and other disabilities receiving Social Security benefits.
Call Rubin Law Today to See How We Can Help
Rubin Law is the only Illinois law firm to dedicate itself exclusively to providing compassionate legal services for children and adults with special needs. We offer unique legal and future planning techniques to meet your family’s individual needs.
Call us today at 866-TO-RUBIN or email us at email@rubinlaw.com to learn more about the services we can offer you and your family.
