ROCKVILLE, MD – April 1, 2025 –The Autism Society of America strongly opposes the proposed restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), particularly the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This reorganization poses a serious threat to the essential services that millions of people with disabilities, including Autism, rely on, including nutrition assistance, caregiver support, home and community-based services, and independent living programs.
ACL was created in 2012 to serve as a hub on all things Disability and Aging in order to create efficiency and ensure duplication was not occurring among the agency. Breaking apart ACL’s core functions and distributing them across multiple agencies without specialized disability expertise risks fragmenting services, creating bureaucratic barriers, and leaving individuals without the comprehensive, coordinated support they need. The agencies expected to absorb ACL’s responsibilities lack the disability-focused leadership, infrastructure, and accountability necessary to uphold these critical programs.
Simultaneously, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will be integrated into the “Administration for a Healthy America.” These changes could jeopardize years of bipartisan efforts aimed at promoting the inclusion and well-being of individuals with disabilities.
At a time when the Autism community already faces systemic barriers to accessing services, this proposed restructuring would only deepen inequities. We urge the administration to protect and preserve the Administration for Community Living in its current form and to ensure that any changes to HHS leadership and structure prioritize the needs of the disability community.
The Autism Society stands with the broader disability community in demanding that HHS maintain its commitment to supporting and empowering all individuals with disabilities through a dedicated, centralized, and expert-driven approach.
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