The purpose of the proposed Autism Effectiveness, Responsiveness, and Accountability (ERA) Act of 2019 is to improve the health status and quality of life for people living with autism and their caregivers, while reducing the associated costs for individuals with autism, their caregivers, and the U.S. Government.
The Autism ERA Act provides for:
- A full-time Federal Autism Coordinator and Assistant Federal Autism Coordinator located in the agency-neutral Executive Office of the President, Domestic Policy Council
- A small Office of National Autism Policy Coordination (ONAPC) in the agency-neutral Executive Office of the President, Domestic Policy Council
- An annual National Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategy (NASDS)
- Created, Implemented, and Evaluated by the ONAPC
- Involves extensive outreach to all segments of the autism community across the country, and to people from all sides of the autism spectrum
- Highlights best practices, pilot programs, and lessons learned from across the country on education strategies, housing options, employment, transportation, public safety, victim advocacy, medical treatment, caregiver support, and other vital issues facing the autism community.
The bill is patterned after similar, successful efforts, such as:
- The responsibilities of the Director of National Intelligence, after the 9/11 tragedy
- The HIV/AIDS Office and National HIV/AIDS Strategy
- The National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and the National Alzheimer’s Project Act
- The Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the National Drug Control Strategy
This bill will increase accountability, actively involve the autism community in the development and evaluation of the NASDS, and focus on measurable outcomes that will improve the lives of people with autism and those who care for them. It will also serve as a mechanism for reducing the costs to the U.S. taxpayers by ultimately reducing Social Security and Medicaid expenditures when those affected by autism are more healthy, independent, and productive.
