August 28, 2026

Dear Members of the IACC,

Thank you for yesterday's vote to overwhelmingly approve the proposed 2026 IACC Strategy. Having attended the August 27 meeting at NIH, I appreciated the thorough, considerate discourse and the careful incorporation of feedback from deeply knowledgeable and diverse organizations, researchers, clinicians, and public comments.

This strategy is a vital step forward, proposing structures addressing the research, translation, medical treatments, and quality-of-life supports envisioned by families since the passage of the 2006 Combating Autism Act. By replacing previous plans with well informed recommendations, this strategy represents a positive turning point for our nation and our families. It aligns closely with the needs of the community by acknowledging developmental regression and validating the experiences of those with profound autism. It acknowledges and expands upon existing research adding in what’s missing to move forward with practical and appropriately ambitious goals.

Furthermore, the new strategy shifts the paradigm from a purely social-behavioral lens to a physiological view that accounts for genetics, environment, metabolism, movement, communication, and lifespan accommodations. By focusing on evidence-based solutions with inputs from the committee’s deep knowledge and expertise on Autism, it aims to deliver upon what families have requested from the federal government for over the past two decades.

Thank you for your courage and resolve in going beyond the status quo to establish this solid roadmap. I urge the IACC Chair and National Autism Coordinator at NIH to expeditiously complete the final version and pursue next steps with federal agency leaders on ways to incorporate this strategy into meaningful results.

Sincerely,

Dawn Loughborough
Past President of Autism Policy Reform Coalition