December 12, 2023 | For Immediate Release
2022 IACC Summary of Advances Highlights New and Impactful Autism Research
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) has released its 2022 Summary of Advances in Autism Research. This publication provides short, plain language summaries of the top 20 advances in autism biomedical and services research selected by members of the IACC. In addition, the IACC has released an accompanying easy-read version that summarizes the full publication in a briefer, more accessible format.
The 20 studies selected for 2022 highlight potential ways to improve early screening and diagnosis of autism, including through the use of telehealth, and insight into brain differences that may contribute to autism and impact social communication, language development, and sensory processing. The studies also improve our understanding of disparities between autistic adults from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, a study using data from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network found significant racial and ethnic disparities in the receipt of early intervention services. However on a positive note, a separate ADDM study found that the number of U.S. children identified early in life has increased greatly since 2002, providing greater opportunity for the receipt of early intervention services and supports. Lastly, several studies selected for the Summary of Advances investigate important lifespan issues such as disruptions in Medicaid services, vocational outcomes, and differences in the prevalence of co-occurring conditions between autistic individuals diagnosed as children versus those diagnosed as adults.
Articles in the Summary of Advances are grouped according to the topics represented by the seven Questions of the 2021-2023 IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Research, Services, and Policy. Citations for the articles selected for the Summary of Advances, as well as a complete listing of nominated articles, are included in the publication. The 2022 Summary of Advances meets the requirements of the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (Autism CARES) Act of 2019.
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The IACC is a federal advisory committee that was created by Congress in an effort to accelerate progress in autism research and services. The IACC works to improve coordination and communication across the federal government and work in partnership with the autism community. The Committee is composed of officials from many different federal agencies involved in autism research and services, as well as autistic adults, parents and family members of individuals on the autism spectrum, advocates, researchers, providers, and other public stakeholders. The documents and recommendations produced by the IACC reflect the views of the Committee as an independent advisory body and the expertise of the members of the Committee, but do not represent the views, official statements, policies, or positions of the federal government. For more information on the IACC, please visit: iacc.hhs.gov.
