The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a federal advisory group that coordinates autism research and services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Committee develops the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Research, Services, and Policy, and provides recommendations to guide federal priorities.
ASPIRE participates in the IACC public comment process to represent individuals affected by PANS, PANDAS, and related immune-mediated encephalopathies as autism research and policy evolve. Our comments aim to improve recognition of medically treatable conditions, advance biologically informed research, and support comprehensive evaluation and care throughout the lifespan.
Below are ASPIRE’s policy comments and formal submissions to the IACC.
2026
July 22, 2026
Public Comment on the IACC 2026–2028 Strategic Plan Working Draft
ASPIRE submitted recommendations on the proposed National Neurodevelopmental Regression Initiative and the Acute Neuroimmune Destabilization Evaluation Pathway. Our comments emphasize the importance of including medically treatable causes of acute change from baseline—including acute neuroimmune disorders such as PANS/PANDAS when clinically appropriate—within standardized evaluation frameworks to strengthen both research and clinical care.
April 13, 2026
Public Comment – Integration of PANS/PANDAS Screening in Autism Evaluations
ASPIRE recommended that autism evaluations include consideration of PANS/PANDAS when individuals experience developmental regression, sudden symptom onset, or acute neuropsychiatric changes. The submission emphasized that an autism diagnosis should not preclude evaluation for potentially treatable medical conditions and called for greater clinician education and standardized medical assessment.
Gabriella True
