The Autism IEP Act

MAC worked successfully in 2005-06 to secure enactment of the Autism IEP Act which requires the IEP Team to consider and specifically address the full range of a child’s complex communication, social, behavioral, and academic needs resulting from ASD to help ensure provision of state-of-the-art supports and services. The law became effective in July 2006, and subsequently the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued a Technical Assistance Advisory regarding implementation of the law. Project staff integrated the strong components of this advisory into its training curricula to enable parents and professionals to utilize the state’s policy effectively and help implement the law.