Report Highlights IACC’s Lack of Tangible, Measurable Objectives in Its Strategic Plans
Investigators from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have revealed that federal officials need to enhance their monitoring and coordination efforts to address the needs of Americans with autism. The GAO’s recent review involved 19 different agencies engaged in various autism-related activities ranging from prevalence tracking to education and employment. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) ensures collaboration between these agencies. Although, these efforts are managed mainly by the national autism coordinator and the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). While the NIH generally followed recommended collaboration practices, the GAO identified room for improvement, especially in defining expected outcomes and ensuring accountability. The GAO report highlighted that IACC needs more tangible, measurable objectives in its strategic plans, and the NIH’s coordination efforts fall short of guaranteeing accountability due to inadequate progress tracking and reporting. The GAO recommends that the NIH establish a process for tracking and reporting progress on IACC goals, addressing performance gaps, and documenting procedures to prevent duplication across federal autism efforts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing the NIH, concurred with the GAO’s recommendations and is working on their implementation.
