The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) is soliciting public comment to assist IACC with identifying priorities for an update of the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  The comment period opened June 15, 2016 and will go to July 29, 2016.

The strategic plan addresses seven areas:  Screening and Diagnosis, Underlying Biology of ASD, Risk Factors, Treatments and Interventions, Services, Lifespan Issues, and Surveillance and Infrastructure.  The following are some questions to think about when providing comment:

1. When should I be concerned? (Screening and Diagnosis)

2. How can I understand what is happening? (Underlying Biology of ASD)

3. What caused this to happen and can this be prevented? (Risk Factors)

4. Which treatments and interventions will help? (Treatments and Interventions)

5. Where can I turn for services? (Services)

6. What does the future hold, especially for adults? (Lifespan Issues)

7. What other infrastructure and surveillance needs must be met? (Surveillance and Infrastructure)

The comments will become a matter of public record, so bear that in mind when making any comments that could be personally identifiable.  All comments must be submitted through the Web form, which can be found here: https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/public-comments/requests-for-information/2016/strategic-plan.shtml.

For a copy of the current strategic plan, check here: https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/strategic-plan/2013/