Autism Society of Texas

08/28/2026

The Autism Society has joined fellow organizations in raising serious concerns that the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is failing to meaningfully engage the autism community in decisions about research and services.

The IACC is expected to vote tomorrow on a new Strategic Plan, yet thousands of pages of timely public comments submitted by August 20 were not shared with Committee members until this afternoon and are not publicly available.

Public input is not a formality. We urge the IACC to follow FACA requirements, ensure all timely comments are considered, and meaningfully engage the community before any vote takes place.

Our priorities may differ, but we agree on this: all voices should be heard.
https://autisticadvocacy.org/2026/08/community-calls-on-iacc/

08/27/2026

We had a great time at our AST Pool Party this past weekend at Volente Beach!

It was great getting to connect with families and have fun together, thank you so much to The Waterpark at Volente Beach Resort!

08/26/2026

Happening this weekend - we hope to see you there!

08/25/2026

We had a great time at Don't Worry W***y Day at The Ensemble Theatre Houston this past weekend! It was great getting to connect with families, participate in fun activities, and see the fantastic play, Don't Worry W***y!

Thank you so much to our board member, Erica Lewis, and our volunteer and AST Group Leader, Cynthia Singleton, for representing AST at this great event!

08/25/2026

We want to hear from you! *School Vouchers*

Did your family receive funding through the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, also known as the private school voucher program or Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)? Whether your experience has been positive or challenging, we’d like to hear how it’s going for your family.

⚠️ Have a concern or complaint? You can report your experience through the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency’s independent Voucher Watchdog Reporting Portal:
https://intake.osod.org/

💬 Share your experience or get support. Please use our Navigating Autism program form: https://www.texasautismsociety.org/navigating-autism-program/

📚 Looking for information about ESAs and students with Autism and other disabilities? Disability Rights Texas has a helpful overview here:
https://disabilityrightstx.org/en/handout/education-savings-account-update-for-2025-2026-school-year/

Your experiences can help us better understand how this new program is working for Texas families. Thank you!

08/22/2026

El Paso Area - have you heard about our El Paso Autistic Adult Support Group?

This monthly virtual support and connection meeting is for Autistic adults, 18+ and happens on Zoom! The next meeting is Wednesday, August 26th 5:30 PM - El Paso/MST.

Learn more and RSVP here: https://bit.ly/ElPasoAutisticAdult-August2026

08/22/2026

We’re excited to celebrate our Board member, Kimberly Griego of El Paso, on being selected for this year’s cohort of the Autism Consortium of Texas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (ACT LEND) Program!

The has been proud to support ACT LEND since its inception, and we’re especially thrilled to have one of our own Board members participating in this important program.

ACT LEND brings together graduate students, family members, and self-advocates to build leadership skills and advance culturally informed diagnosis, support, and advocacy for people with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

Congratulations, Kimberly! We’re so proud to have you representing El Paso and the Autism Society of Texas!

08/20/2026

Conferencias Sobre El Autismo "Nuevo Diagnóstico: Próximos Pasos" es 16 de Septiembre!

Este Septiembre, acompáñanos para entender los primeros pasos después de un diagnóstico de Autismo.

Esta presentación en español ayudará a padres y cuidadores a identificar recursos, apoyos y caminos para comenzar con confianza. Únete a nuestro Facebook Live. Confirmar su asistencia aqui.

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This September, we’ll help families understand the first steps after an Autism diagnosis. Learn where to begin, what support may be available, and how to feel more confident navigating early decisions. Join us live on Facebook for this welcoming session in Spanish.

08/19/2026

LAST CHANCE to RSVP to join us this Sunday, 8/23 for our Volente Beach Pool Party!

Greater Austin area, join families of Autism Society of Texas at The Waterpark at Volente Beach Resort this Sunday with exclusive hours from 9-11 am. Park opens to the public at 11am and we can stay until closing at 8pm!

This event is FREE for Autistic individuals and $10 each for friends and family.
RSVP now to let us know you’ll be there: https://bit.ly/AST-VolentePoolParty2026

08/18/2026

The Autism Society joins organizations including the Autism Science Foundation, the National Council on Severe Autism, the Coalition of Autism Scientists, Profound Autism Alliance, Autism Speaks, and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in requesting a 90-day extension of the public comment period on the draft Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Strategic Plan.
We appreciate the IACC’s work to develop a comprehensive strategic plan and recognize the importance of this process. However, a four-day comment period is simply insufficient for Autistic individuals, families, researchers, providers, and other stakeholders to thoughtfully review a complex, more than 300-page document and provide meaningful feedback. An extension would help ensure broader engagement and allow the final plan to better reflect the priorities and needs of the Autism community.

https://autismsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Joint-Statement-on-IACC-Strategic-Plan.pdf

The Autism Society joins organizations including the Autism Science Foundation, the National Council on Severe Autism, the Coalition of Autism Scientists, Profound Autism Alliance, Autism Speaks, and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in requesting a 90-day extension of the public comment period on the draft Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Strategic Plan.

We appreciate the IACC’s work to develop a comprehensive strategic plan and recognize the importance of this process. However, a four-day comment period is simply insufficient for Autistic individuals, families, researchers, providers, and other stakeholders to thoughtfully review a complex, more than 300-page document and provide meaningful feedback. An extension would help ensure broader engagement and allow the final plan to better reflect the priorities and needs of the Autism community.

https://autismsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Joint-Statement-on-IACC-Strategic-Plan.pdf