Please enjoy OARC’s third quarterly newsletter. This newsletter includes updates on upcoming and recent events, news, publications, and community participation opportunities.

The agenda for the upcoming meeting includes presentations from the NIH Autism Spectrum Disorder Pediatric, Early Detection, Engagement and Services (ASD PEDS) Network on their research on early screening and the HHS Indian Health Service on their autism and disability programs. There will also be a discussion of the 2017 Summary of Advances.

The topic of autism and suicide was highlighted at the October IACC meeting. Researchers Dr. Sarah Cassidy (Suicidality in Autism) and Dr. Lisa Horowitz (Screening for Suicide Risk in Youth), and advocate Ms. Colleen Carr (Aligning National Efforts to Prevent Suicide) shared their work on this issue. Presentation slides can be found here. An autism focused version of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit is now available on the NIMH website.

The National Institute for Cyber Security Education (NICE) hosted a webinar on research and corporate initiatives that promote the inclusion of people on the autism spectrum, specifically within the field of cybersecurity. IACC member Dr. Kevin Pelphrey was one of the speakers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed an app, the CDC Milestone Tracker, to help parents track their child's developmental milestones and recognize delays. The app was developed by the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early" program.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy has selected 18 states to receive technical assistance and training under the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program for fiscal year 2018. The program provides onsite and virtual technical assistance to help increase competitive, integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) has released the results of their survey on adults aged 18 and older enrolled in Medicaid between October 2013 and December 2013. The survey provides information on state-by-state access, barriers to care, and experiences prior to the expansion of coverage on January 1, 2014

The Department of Education has released a document answering questions about the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision on Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, which clarified the definition of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This document provides an overview of the case, clarifies the definition of FAPE, and provides considerations for the implementation of IEPs.

The NIH All of Us Research Program is seeking ideas from the public to help in the development of their research priorities. Ideas must be submitted by February 9, 2018.

The Autism Science Foundation is looking for unaffected sisters of individuals with autism to participate in this initiative. The study aims to understand the "female protective effect." This study ends December 31, 2018.

SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge) matches individuals with research studies based on characteristics such as age, diagnosis, medical history, and more. Their aim is to speed up research and advance the understanding of autism.

The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) at the Kennedy Krieger Institute offers ongoing opportunities to participate in research. Participants complete on online survey and will receive notices about local, regional, and national studies.

National Council on Disability released a progress report in October 2017. This report addresses reasons for the high rates of poverty and unemployment of people with disabilities. The report also highlights opportunities for improvement.