Americans for Autism Advocacy on the State of the Union Address

As President Biden delivers remarks to a joint session of Congress, neurodiverse Americans are being failed by Washington’s inability to get things done.  

President Joe Biden issued his State of the Union address on March 7th in front of a joint session of the Congress of the United States. Americans for Autism Advocacy would like to offer both to the Congress and to the President, the true State of the Union that exists for neurodiverse Americans.  

As of today, the state of our union for neurodiverse Americans is not where it needs to be.  Too many neurodiverse Americans go to work every day not knowing if they will be discriminated against.  More than half the states in this country are failing to meet federal standards for special education while receiving funding.  Applied Behavioral Analysis providers are the targets of reimbursement cuts for receiving patients on Medicaid.  Our elections and public policy system is dealing with the spread of foreign money that is corrupting our democracy. Additionally, military families of neurodiverse children are being failed by TriCare.  Americans for Autism Advocacy outlines solutions that will help neurodiverse Americans get ahead in the country we love.

1. The Economy- Congress Must Fix the Americans with Disabilities Act to stop Neurodiverse Discrimination 

The vague definition of “intellectual disability” in The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), is putting numerous neurodiverse Americans who work for a living at risk for workplace discrimination. Expanding the definition of intellectual disability in the ADA will end the gray area that exists in the current law and start encouraging employers to hire more neurodiverse employees. Ending neurodiversity discrimination in the workplace will be a top policy priority  for Americans for Autism Advocacy at the federal level for the 2025 Congress. The U.S. Department of Labor needs to work with the business community to educate them on the issues of neurodiversity discrimination and their obligations under the law.  Modernizing the ADA today will ensure more neurodiverse Americans can participate in our economy.  

2. Health Care – Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) providers who accept Medicaid are the victims of budget games by state Governors on reimbursement rates.  Both Congress and the President must work to protect ABA reimbursement from further cuts 

The end of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced state governors across the country to make harsh cuts to Medicaid services. Governor Eric Holcomb (R-Indiana) was forced to scrap a plan last year that would have significantly cut Medicaid reimbursement rates for applied behavioral analysis (ABA) providers. This change came after Governor Holcomb was facing backlash from his own state lawmakers and the public.  Americans for Autism Advocacy calls on the Biden Administration and Congress to protect ABA providers from being the victim of reimbursement cuts.  ABA is a proven method that is meant to help with the early diagnosis of Autism.  Medicaid for most low income and lower middle class families is the only way they can afford ABA services.  Our solution is that before cuts are made, both the Department of Health and Human Services and their state partners must find ways to make the systems more efficient and responsive. Revamping Medicaid requires an all hands on deck approach.  The health insurers, state health departments, and the Department of Health and Human Services should be working together to ensure that Medicaid is sustainable now and in the future.  

3. Education – More than half of the states in the country are failing to meet federal special education standards.  Congress and the Biden Administration must impose higher standards on states to earn federal special education funding. 

The last time Congress has enacted reforms to special education funding in the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), was over 20 years ago when George W. Bush was President.   

The 2023 IDEA report card from the U.S. Department of Education found that close to half of the states have failed to meet federal standards for special education delivery under the IDEA act.  This is unacceptable when states are spending more money and taxpayers along with parents are not getting the results they deserve.  Iowa’s Education Department has been widely criticized by Governor Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) for spending more per pupil on special education, nearly twice the state average.  Test scores for neurodiverse students in The Hawkeye State are much lower than their neurotypical counterparts.  

Americans for Autism Advocacy calls on Congress to propose changes to funding in the IDEA act  The changes desired are imposing higher standards on states to earn special education funding.  This can be measured on:

• Improvement on test scores.

• Ending abhorrent practices towards students with disabilities-i.e-Seclusion and restraint.

• Implementation of technology.

• Access to mental health services

• Allowing access to accredited, outside applied behavioral analysis providers.

Reforming IDEA Act funding will be a long-term process. AFAA is committed for the long haul to reforming IDEA Act funding for today and future generations.  

4. Ethics Reform – The spread of foreign money in our public policy and elections system must stop

What does ethics reform and neurodiversity have in common?  They both have the same goal of leveling the playing field of public policy so more people can participate in the process of policy making.  Over the past year, House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin) has been tackling the issue of foreign money funding 501(c)3 and (c)4 organizations. Foreign money is a smokescreen to illegal political campaign intervention by  501(c)3 and (c)4 organizations.  No democracy can tolerate foreign funds influencing the policy making process.  Americans for Autism Advocacy calls on Congress to pass HR 3229 – Stop the Foreign Funds in Elections Act.  Once the spread of foreign money stops, Congress should not stop in tackling the other ethics reform issues that are plaguing our public policy system such as:

• Calling on the Federal Election Commission to extend the personal use prohibition on leadership political action committees run by Members of Congress.

• Lowering the disclosure threshold for political action committees run by lobbyists.  $22,700 is way too high of a threshold for lobbyists to not disclose bundled contributions.  The threshold should be lowered to $10,000 irrespective of inflation.

• Improving the capabilities of the IRS Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Division to enforce violations of illegal campaign intervention.

5. Health Care – Congress must reverse cuts in TriCare for ABA services to neurodiverse children in Military Families 

Anyone who serves the United States in uniform deserves our respect and admiration.  Over 10,000 active and retired military families have a family member with Autism.  TriCare imposed significant cuts to applied behavioral analysis services in 2022.  This is simply unacceptable.  ABA is a proven treatment method to help individuals with Autism.  Americans for Autism Advocacy is calling on Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Biden Administration to reverse these irresponsible cuts. Members of the Armed Forces should have to choose between continuing to serve the country they love or ensuring their neurodiverse family member gets the help they need to lead a better life.  If we truly want to say thanks to those who served, we must reverse these senseless TriCare cuts.

These policy solutions are a start to having a necessary discussion with Congress and federal agencies on issues relating to neurodiversity.  We can improve the State of the Union for neurodiverse Americans by introducing solutions that can earn the support of lawmakers in both parties.  If you believe in AFAA’s cause, we ask you to contact your Representatives and Senators and have a discussion on these issues.