Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee 2020 - Summary of Advances in Autism Research - Key report on progress in autism research

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Damian

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) 2020 summary consolidates federal and public stakeholder guidance on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research and services. It outlines the committee’s statutory responsibilities to develop and update an ASD research strategic plan and monitor federal activities, while describing selected peer-reviewed advances. The contents cover screening and diagnosis, biology, genetic and environmental factors, interventions, services and supports, lifespan outcomes, and research infrastructure and prevalence estimates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Articles Selected for the 2020 Summary of Advances

Screening and Diagnosis

Biology

Genetic and Environmental Factors

Interventions

Services and Supports

Lifespan

Research Infrastructure and Prevalence

INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE 2020 SUMMARY OF ADVANCES in Autism Research INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE 2020 SUMMARY OF ADVANCES In Autism Research COVER DESIGN NIH Medical Arts Branch COPYRIGHT INFORMATION All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied. A suggested citation follows. SUGGESTED CITATION Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). 2020 IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Research. May 2022. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee website: [https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/summary-of-advances/2020/](https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/summary-of-advances/2020/). ii ABOUT THE IACC The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee charged with coordinating Federal activities concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and providing advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on issues related to autism. The Committee was established by Congress under the Children's Health Act of 2000, reconstituted under the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006, and renewed most recently under the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2019. Membership of the Committee includes a wide array of Federal agencies involved in ASD research and services. Public stakeholders are also members of the Committee, including self-advocates, family members of children and adults on the autism spectrum, advocates, service providers, and researchers, representing a variety of perspectives from within the autism community. The IACC membership is composed to ensure that the Committee is equipped to address the wide range of issues and challenges faced by individuals and families affected by autism. Under the CAA and subsequent reauthorizations, the IACC is required to (1) develop and annually update a strategic plan for ASD research,(2) develop and annually update a summary of advances in ASD research, and (3) monitor Federal activities related to ASD. Through these and other activities, the IACC provides guidance to HHS and partners with other Federal departments, Federal agencies, research and advocacy organizations, and the broader autism community to accelerate research and enhance services with the goal of addressing the needs of and improving the quality of life of people on the autism spectrum and their families. *** For more information about the IACC, see [http://www.iacc.hhs.gov](http://www.iacc.hhs.gov). iii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ VI ARTICLES SELECTED FOR THE 2020 SUMMARY OF ADVANCES ........................... 1 SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS ............................................................3 Primary Care Autism Screening and Later Autism Diagnosis ...................................... 4 Timing of the Diagnosis of Autism in African American Children .................................... 5 Validation of the Developmental Check-In Tool for Low-Literacy Autism Screening ................... 6 BIOLOGY ...............................................................................7 Sleep Onset Problems and Subcortical Development in Infants Later Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder ............................................................... 8 Trajectories in Symptoms of Autism and Cognitive Ability in Autism From Childhood to Adult Life: Findings From a Longitudinal Epidemiological Cohort ............................... 9 GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ............................................. 10 Inherited Risk for Autism Through Maternal and Paternal Lineage ................................11 Large-Scale Exome Sequencing Study Implicates Both Developmental and Functional Changes in the Neurobiology of Autism ......................

FAQs

What is the role of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)?

The IACC is a Federal advisory committee coordinating federal activities on autism spectrum disorder and advising the Secretary of Health and Human Services on related issues.

What responsibilities are required of the IACC under the relevant Acts?

Under the CAA and subsequent reauthorizations, the IACC must develop and annually update an ASD research strategic plan, develop and annually update a summary of advances in ASD research, and monitor federal activities related to ASD.

What topics are covered in the 2020 summary’s selected articles?

The selected articles span screening and diagnosis, biology, genetic and environmental factors, interventions, services and supports, lifespan outcomes, and research infrastructure and prevalence.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Damian