April 3, 2023 | For Immediate Release
2021 Summary of Advances Highlights Notable Autism Research from 2021
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) has released its 2021 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 2021 have provided new insight into several topics, including disparities in screening, medication use in autism, and the biology associated with communication outcomes. The advances also include studies that investigated early interventions and family navigation, service needs across the lifespan, and prevalence estimates across demographic groups. Articles in the Summary of Advances are grouped according to the topics represented by the seven Questions of the 2016-2017 IACC Strategic Plan for ASD. 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 2021 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 order to accelerate progress in ASD 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 adults on the autism spectrum, 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.
