Overview
The Office of National Autism Coordination (ONAC) provides support for the HHS National Autism Coordinator and oversees the management of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).
The role of National Autism Coordinator was created by Congress to facilitate coordination and implementation of autism activities across federal departments and agencies. This work is accomplished in part through the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Autism (FIWA), a work group of federal agencies whose missions include autism- and disability-related programs.
The ONAC Director is also the Executive Secretary of the IACC and oversees the Office of Autism Research Coordination within ONAC, which provides support for the IACC.
The IACC is a federal advisory committee mandated by Congress to coordinate autism-related activities across federal departments and agencies and provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues related to autism. The membership of the IACC includes federal agency officials and public members including autistic adults, family members, and representatives of autism research, advocacy, and service organizations.
ONAC/OARC provides assistance to the IACC by:
- Communicating information about the IACC and federal autism activities to Congress, other government agencies, and the public
- Coordinating cross-agency efforts
- Planning meetings, conferences, and other venues for interaction between the IACC and the public
- Assisting the IACC in its strategic planning and federal autism activity monitoring activities
- Conducting analyses and preparing reports for the IACC and Congress
- Gathering public input on issues related to autism to inform the committee's work
- Disseminating information to the public about autism
